Todo could only swap himself, or swap Yuki with one of the other Sorcerers in the crowd.
Given Todo's massive intellect, he knew that exchanging Kasumi Miwa—the weakest member of the group—for the Special Grade Tsukumo would be the most rational, tactical decision. Even if he couldn't bear to sacrifice his junior, he could at least swap Yuki for Nobara.
Todo even considered gambling with Yuji Itadori, hoping that Mirai would stop the execution in time to avoid killing Sukuna's vessel.
But within Mirai's perfected Domain, the attacks were blindingly fast and absolute. If Mirai hesitated for even a fraction of a millisecond too late, Yuji would be dead.
Therefore...
Aoi Todo, a true man, used his own life to withstand the fatal blow.
CLAP!
Todo swapped places with Yuki.
The necklace around his neck fell open, revealing two photos inside.
One was a flying kiss from the idol, Takada-chan.
The other was the smiling face of his best friend, Yuji Itadori.
Blood instantly dripped from the corner of Todo's mouth. He did not turn around to look at the crowd. His gaze remained fixed on his only remaining right arm.
"This is the final Boogie Woogie," Todo whispered.
"ESCAPE!!!"
Todo's dying cry was his final command to his brothers-in-arms!
The words had barely fallen—
PFFT—!!!
The three emotionless Mahoragas cleaved the man into several pieces without pause!
Severed limbs lay scattered on the ground, sinking into the shadows. His brain, heart, and abdomen were all instantly dissected, making any attempt at Reverse Cursed Technique impossible.
Yuji, who had been a Sorcerer for the shortest amount of time, was the most emotionally fragile.
He stared blankly at the spot where his brother had just been standing. The light in Yuji's eyes was almost completely extinguished.
...
"Domain Expansion: Chimera Shadow Garden!"
"Kusakabe, let's go!" Megumi yelled.
The one-armed Panda grabbed the dazed, catatonic Yuji and fled at full speed!
Flying at a low altitude on Momo Nishimiya's broom, Megumi deployed his semi-finished Domain, expanding it just enough to cover everyone's backs. By doing so, he neutralized the guaranteed sure-hit effect of Mirai's Domain, preventing them from being instantly sniped by Shikigami.
Yuki Tsukumo, who had been on the verge of death, rushed to the front of the escaping crowd. Her face was a mask of absolute grief and indignation!
She grieved over the brutal execution of her former apprentice, Todo, and was furious at her own incompetence!
"Garuda!"
Because Mirai's Domain was an open Domain, it had no physical outer shell to trap them. The group fled swiftly to the edge of the blood-red Gedo Mazo roots that enclosed the battlefield.
Yuki's Shikigami, imbued with the terrifying virtual mass of Star Rage, smashed a huge passage through the roots of the Divine Tree, creating an exit.
Soaked in cold sweat and blood, Megumi looked behind him with extreme tension at the figure sitting high on the shadow throne.
Megumi was well aware that his Domain's protection was ultimately useless. Mirai could appear beside them at any second and take their heads with ease. Whether or not they escaped successfully depended entirely on the monster's mood.
...
On his throne, Mirai watched the fleeing crowd with an expressionless face.
A purple halo appeared in his right eye. The Rinnegan pierced through the distance, looking directly at Yuji Itadori's soul.
Mirai observed the shape of the boy's soul, which was changing little by little under the weight of immense trauma.
"It's growing. Not bad," Mirai murmured softly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Through the despair of Aoi Todo's death, Yuji's soul seemed to have hardened, growing closer to the state Mirai needed him in for the final act.
In a fairly good mood, Mirai waved his hand, canceling his Domain and the Divine Tree roots, letting them leave.
There were a few people in that group who really couldn't die right now. As for the rest of the ants, it didn't matter to Mirai whether he crushed them now or later.
When you step over an ant colony, you must ensure some of the ants survive to build the farm. It took a little effort to get the balance right.
Whoosh!
"You're slacking, kid!"
"It took you this long to deal with just that trash?"
The battle was over. Having just emerged from the Kamui Dimension, White Zetsu's mouth immediately started chattering away.
"If I, Master Zetsu, were to fight that blonde woman, I guarantee I could take her down in three seconds!" Zetsu bragged, proudly rubbing two fingers together.
"Besides!" Zetsu complained loudly. "Didn't you see how badly that Brain-in-a-jar was getting scolded by Master Zetsu?! Why did you pull me back into Kamui so early?!"
"Give me just one more minute, and I guarantee I would have cursed him so badly he would have vomited blood! It's me! Master Zetsu!"
"Alright, alright."
Mirai waved his hand helplessly, massaging his temples.
This was White Zetsu. If it had been anyone else speaking to Mirai like that, they would have been reduced to a shower of minced meat in an instant.
"Get out of here," Mirai said impatiently. "I'll give you two days to deal with your 'trivial matters.' There are other tasks waiting for you after that."
"OK!" Zetsu grinned wickedly.
The "trivial matters" Mirai mentioned were something White Zetsu had been obsessing over for a long time.
From the initial incident at the juvenile detention center to his time teaching at Jujutsu High, the corrupt, cowardly Higher-Ups of the Jujutsu world had constantly oppressed him, eventually ordering his assassination. He had a lot to "talk" about with those old men.
Before Mirai launched his attack on the Jujutsu High headquarters earlier that night, Zetsu had begged Mirai for several minutes not to kill the Higher-Ups with his energy beam.
Given the current situation, those old guys were no longer necessary to the plot. Zetsu wanted the pleasure of executing them himself.
Zetsu lit a cigar with an air of absolute triumph.
"I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when they realize who I am!" Zetsu cackled. "I'm going to make them kneel and beg for mercy!"
Without a second thought, Zetsu disappeared into the ground, eager to begin his massacre.
Looking at Zetsu's retreating figure, Mirai shook his head speechlessly.
Kenjaku would need a day or two to initiate the Culling Game and set up the ten barriers across Japan. It was good to let Zetsu go out and have some fun now. At the very least, it kept the noisy Curse away so Mirai's ears wouldn't hurt.
Mirai turned his head.
Mai Zenin stood nearby. She had kept her head lowered, looking reserved and terrified, not daring to speak.
A hint of purple flashed in Mirai's eyes.
The Rinnegan confirmed it. The unique spiritual connection between the two sisters was indeed completely severed. Mai's Cursed Energy had also increased by several massive levels. The operation was a complete success.
"Let's go. Come back to the Shinjuku base with me," Mirai casually gave the order.
He turned and walked away, leaving the broken, burning ruins of Shibuya behind.
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