The forest was still quiet from the last round of cursed spirit "management."
Too quiet.
Like it was waiting for something worse.
Takeru stopped walking suddenly.
Geto noticed immediately.
"…What now," Geto asked.
Takeru pointed off into the distance.
"…Sukuna needs a break."
Silence.
Sukuna slowly turned his head.
"…Excuse me?"
Takeru didn't even hesitate.
"You're going to the island."
A pause.
Sukuna narrowed his eyes.
"…I don't take orders."
Takeru shrugged.
"…You do today."
And before anyone could react—
the space around Sukuna distorted.
He was gone.
Yuji froze.
"…Did he just delete Sukuna from reality?"
Megumi immediately looked up.
"…That's not how this works."
Nobara pointed.
"…HE JUST SENT HIM ON VACATION."
Meanwhile—
on the cursed spirit island—
Sukuna reappeared mid-sand.
Palm trees.
Ocean waves.
Bright sunlight.
A cursed spirit in sunglasses offering him a drink.
He stared silently.
"…I hate this."
A second later—
Takeru appeared beside him briefly, gave a thumbs-up, then immediately left.
"…Relax," Takeru said.
"…No."
And Sukuna was left there.
On the island.
Against his will.
Surrounded by "peaceful" cursed spirits on rotation break.
Back in the forest—
Geto blinked slowly.
"…You just exiled Sukuna to a vacation dimension."
Takeru nodded.
"…Correct."
Geto paused.
"…He's going to be angry when he comes back."
Takeru shrugged.
"…He'll be rested."
Silence.
Yuji slowly turned to Megumi.
"…We're not stopping this, are we."
Megumi replied instantly.
"…We can't."
Nobara crossed her arms.
"…We're just along for the ride now."
Hakari nodded.
"…Honestly I respect the efficiency."
Then Takeru clapped once.
"Anyway."
A grin.
"Next level."
The deeper forest ahead shifted again.
Larger cursed energy signatures.
Heavier.
Denser.
More refined.
Geto tilted his head slightly.
"…They're getting stronger."
Takeru's eyes lit up.
"Good."
A pause.
"Better flavor scaling."
Geto nodded.
"…Agreed."
And just like that—
the next wave of cursed spirits began lining up deeper in the forest.
Not attacking immediately.
Not fleeing.
Just waiting.
Like a queue.
Takeru cracked his knuckles.
"…We're leveling up."
Geto calmly stepped forward.
"…Higher tier drops."
Behind them—
the group slowly realized something important.
This wasn't a mission anymore.
It was progression.