Sukuna repaid Jogo for every ounce of humiliation and pain he had suffered at Sol's hands, then doubled it.
Throughout the ruined battlefield, only Jogo's fading screams and desperate pleas for mercy echoed alongside the relentless sound of brutal impacts.
After an unknown length of time, the noise finally died away.
Jogo's massive body lay mangled in a pool of lava and blood. Its lone eye had lost all light, and only the faintest trace of life remained.
Sukuna stood over the dying Special Grade Cursed Spirit, his chest rising and falling steadily. His body was stained with ash and cursed blood.
The madness on his face had faded somewhat, but the coldness in his crimson eyes remained unchanged.
He looked down at Jogo without the slightest hint of sympathy.
"Useless."
He delivered the verdict quietly before raising a hand.
"Dismantle."
The invisible slash passed through Jogo without a sound, ending its suffering instantly.
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit disappeared.
Sukuna remained where he stood, silently surveying the devastation around him.
The humiliation, rage, and fear Sol had carved into him still churned violently inside his mind.
His expression darkened.
That man named Sol...
How dare he treat the King of Curses like that?
His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
He would never forget this humiliation.
"Don't be in such a hurry to hold a grudge. I still have a use for you."
Sukuna's head snapped toward the voice.
Sol leaned casually against a broken pillar nearby. It was impossible to tell when he had arrived. His relaxed posture made it seem as though the overwhelming beating from earlier had never happened.
"You..."
Sukuna's killing intent erupted once again. He nearly lunged forward, but the lingering damage throughout his body immediately stopped him.
Suppressing his murderous rage, he growled through clenched teeth.
"What do you want now?"
Sol paid no attention to the hatred in Sukuna's eyes.
He simply raised a hand and pointed into the distance.
"Your audience is waiting."
Sukuna focused his senses in the direction Sol indicated.
Several hundred meters away, inside a partially collapsed subway passage, faint traces of Cursed Energy remained hidden.
A handful of Cursed Users had sensed the aftershocks of the battle and taken shelter, too frightened to investigate any closer.
"Scum," Sukuna muttered with open contempt.
"Deal with them," Sol said matter-of-factly. "Or would you rather continue where we left off?"
The muscles in Sukuna's face twitched.
Humiliation burned inside him like poison, but it was eclipsed by the memory of Sol's overwhelming strength.
He had no doubt.
If he refused, that nightmare would begin again, and this time it would be even worse.
His fists tightened until his knuckles cracked.
Finally, through gritted teeth, he forced out two words.
"...Lead the way."
A faint smile seemed to cross Sol's face.
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the passage, never bothering to check whether Sukuna followed.
Sukuna's expression remained dark as he dragged his still-recovering body after him.
Each step forced shattered bones back into place under the effects of Reverse Cursed Technique. The constant pain only reminded him of his crushing defeat, feeding the rage simmering inside him.
Several minutes later, they arrived at the hidden entrance.
The people inside had already sensed them approaching.
The fluctuating Cursed Energy within the passage became frantic as they desperately tried to retreat deeper underground.
"Heh."
A cruel grin spread across Sukuna's face.
Perfect.
He still had more than enough rage to unleash.
Without using a Cursed Technique, he disappeared into the passage like a phantom.
Moments later, shrill screams echoed through the tunnel.
The dull sounds of bones breaking mixed with the tearing of Cursed Energy as lives were snuffed out one after another.
Sol remained outside the entrance, expressionless as he listened to the massacre unfold.
He never looked inside.
Instead, he raised his eyes toward the gloomy night sky hanging over Shibuya, quietly judging the passage of time.
Before long, the screams stopped.
A thick metallic scent of blood drifted from the tunnel.
Sukuna stepped back outside.
Dark blood covered his body, making his already terrifying appearance even more fearsome.
He licked the corner of his mouth. The savage gleam in his crimson eyes had not faded, but beneath it now lingered unmistakable caution whenever he looked at Sol.
"They're dealt with."
His voice was hoarse, his breathing slightly heavier. Constant self-healing and the brief slaughter had still taken their toll.
Sol lowered his gaze from the sky and gave a small nod.
"Not bad."
He walked past Sukuna without sparing the blood-soaked passage a glance.
"I'm taking you to meet someone."
"You'll like him."
Sukuna watched Sol's back in silence.
His expression shifted several times before he ultimately followed without protest.
Sol led Sukuna toward a deserted subway transfer hall.
The air carried the heavy scent of blood mixed with salty seawater. In the distance, violent collisions of Cursed Energy and the sounds of fierce combat echoed through the underground tunnels.
"Wait here," Sol instructed without turning around. His tone left no room for argument.
"Hmph."
A trace of malice flashed through Sukuna's crimson eyes.
"If you say wait, I'll wait."
Even while forced into obedience, he refused to appear submissive. He leaned casually against a broken pillar without another complaint.
His Reverse Cursed Technique continued repairing his battered body, and Sol's overwhelming display of power had convinced him that temporary cooperation was the wiser choice.
Meanwhile, Sol silently leaped onto a higher section of the ruined platform, disappearing into the shadows as he observed the battlefield below.
A black spherical Domain had already enveloped the area.
Inside were Megumi Fushiguro, Kento Nanami, Maki Zen'in, and Naobito Zen'in.
Based on the situation, they were fighting Dagon alongside Toji Fushiguro.
Without hesitation, Sol stepped directly into the Domain to see how the battle was unfolding.
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