With a low growl from Megumi Fushiguro, the once-enclosed underground cavern seemed to be swallowed instantly by an even deeper darkness.
Black liquid surged frantically from beneath his feet, like a bursting dam, instantly flooding every inch of rock.
That wasn't water.
It was shadow—the abyss belonging to Megumi Fushiguro that could devour everything!
"Chimera Shadow Garden!"
Rumble—!
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit discovered in terror that the solid ground beneath its feet had vanished.
Only a bottomless black mire remained.
No matter how it struggled, its legs felt like they were fighting against the entire world, sinking deeper and deeper.
Simultaneously...
Massive black stone pillars, resembling spinal columns, rose from the shadows, supporting this space that belonged solely to shadows.
Although there was no closed barrier and the boundaries were blurred...
Although it was only an incomplete product that hadn't even fully mastered the sure-hit effect yet, at this moment, this was Megumi Fushiguro's absolute domain!
"So this is... my domain."
Megumi Fushiguro stood at the center of the surging shadows, feeling a sense of control within his body like never before.
It was no longer the helplessness of only being able to take a beating passively.
It was a domineering feeling of 'whatever I want to be here, will be here'!
"In this garden of shadows."
"I am the king!"
Megumi Fushiguro slammed his hands together.
The lone Nue, nourished by the shadows, instantly split into two, then three... countless copies!
They circled above the domain, letting out sharp cries as they dove down, trailing lightning.
"Roar—!"
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit swung its tentacles angrily, trying to swat down these annoying birds.
But the moment it raised its hand, the shadow beneath it suddenly erupted.
A Great Serpent made of shadow opened its bloody maw and bit down hard on its legs.
Next came Toad, as countless long tongues coiled around its arms like chains.
At this moment, it was no longer one-on-one.
It was Megumi Fushiguro's one-man army, a unilateral beatdown against the Special Grade Cursed Spirit!
"What's wrong?"
"Where did that momentum from before go?"
Megumi Fushiguro's voice came from all directions.
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit looked around in panic, only to find Megumi Fushiguro's figure everywhere.
Some were smiling, some were forming hand signs, and some were watching it coldly.
Those were shadow clones!
In this domain, wherever there were shadows, Megumi Fushiguro could dive and clone himself infinitely!
"Damn it... Damn it..."
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit let out a garbled curse that resembled human speech.
It felt the threat of death, and the Sukuna's Finger in its chest began to throb wildly, attempting to blast open the domain with pure cursed energy.
Boom!
A wave of purple cursed energy swept out, and countless shadow clones were instantly destroyed.
But in the next second...
More shadows surged from the darkness, reconsolidating into form.
"It's useless."
"Here, I am immortal."
The real Megumi Fushiguro quietly emerged from the shadow behind the Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
In his hand, he gripped a black blade formed from highly compressed shadows.
His eyes were cold, boiling with killing intent.
"Die!"
Puchi!
The black blade pierced through the Special Grade Cursed Spirit's heart, stabbing directly toward the location of the Sukuna's Finger.
"Roar—!!!"
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit let out a shrill scream.
It twisted its body desperately, trying to counterattack.
But Megumi Fushiguro didn't withdraw the blade. Instead, he suddenly let go and merged back into the shadows.
Next, a pitch-black giant wolf radiating a terrifying aura crawled out from the shadow of the wound.
That was the strongest shikigami that inherited the power of the deceased White Dog—
[DIVINE DOG: TOTALITY]!
"Awoo—!"
Totality roared and bit the Special Grade Cursed Spirit's neck in one gulp.
Sharp fangs instantly pierced the hard skin, and blood gushed out like a fountain.
"It's over."
Megumi Fushiguro's figure appeared before the Special Grade Cursed Spirit once again.
He was covered in blood, his stamina pushed to the absolute limit, with blood even seeping from his nostrils.
But his gaze was brighter than ever before.
"Give... the finger back!"
Boom!
With Totality's final bite, the Special Grade Cursed Spirit's massive frame finally collapsed.
Its body began to break down, dissipating into black dust.
Only that dried-up finger remained, falling into the mire of shadows.
"Huff... huff..."
With the death of the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, the incomplete domain also dissolved.
The black spinal columns collapsed, and the shadows receded.
Megumi Fushiguro's legs gave way, and he slumped onto the slime-covered ground.
He won.
It wasn't a double suicide, but a head-on solo kill!
He panted heavily, looking at the finger in his hand that radiated an ominous aura, a trace of a crazed smile appearing on his lips.
"Gojo-sensei... Yoru..."
"I did it."
However, the moment he let his guard down, the once indestructible Curtain above his head suddenly let out a crisp cracking sound.
"Crack—"
Megumi Fushiguro looked up sharply.
He saw that spatial barrier, which even a Special Grade Cursed Spirit couldn't easily break, was now being sliced through like butter by a hot knife.
A terrifyingly straight rift extended from the ceiling all the way to the ground.
Moonlight spilled through the crack.
A slender figure stepped through the light from outside.
It was Yoru.
He hadn't even drawn his sword; he was simply holding the still-smoking scabbard.
Clearly...
To cut through the barrier just now, he hadn't even used the blade, but merely some form of intent!
Yoru stepped over the ruins, walking up to Megumi Fushiguro step by step.
Their eyes met.
Moonlight fell into Yoru's indifferent yet deep red pupils, which now reflected the boy's battered but resolute appearance.
No unnecessary chatter, no cheap concern.
Yoru just looked at him, the corner of his mouth turning up in a tiny arc.
"Well done."
Two simple words, yet they carried immense weight.
Megumi Fushiguro froze for a moment, then a gratified and knowing smile appeared on his blood-stained face.
At this moment, no words were needed. All the teaching, expectations, and responses were understood.
"Ah..."
"I've gotten... a little greedy."
Megumi Fushiguro murmured softly. The nerves that had been strained to the limit finally snapped.
The Sukuna's Finger slipped from his hand and hit the ground. His vision went black, and he fell backward from exhaustion.
Shua.
Yoru's figure blurred, appearing behind him instantly and steadily catching the exhausted boy.
He picked up the finger from the ground, tucked it away, and then gently leaned Megumi Fushiguro against a stone pillar.
Yoru turned and looked toward the other end of the cave.
That way led to the forest.
"Rest for a bit, Megumi."
Yoru's voice returned to its usual calm, but only Megumi Fushiguro could hear the hidden killing intent within it.
"Next."
"It's time to check on Yuji's side."
"I hope they... can give me a little surprise too."