The sound of hurried footsteps and anxious voices echoed from the distance before Itadori Yuji could finish speaking.
"Yuji! Megumi!"
It was Nobara. Her voice was filled with urgency.
She, Nanami, and Maki Zen'in rushed down from the edge of the crater. The massive surge of Cursed Energy released by Sukuna's Domain Expansion, followed by its sudden disappearance, had clearly drawn them here.
"Are you two alright?!"
Nobara was the first to reach them. Her eyes quickly swept over the battered Itadori and the pale Megumi Fushiguro before settling on Sol, who stood quietly to the side. Confusion and faint caution flickered across her face.
There was no mistaking the overwhelming aura she had sensed moments ago. It had belonged to Sukuna, yet now it had completely vanished.
Nanami adjusted his glasses as he calmly surveyed the battlefield.
The bottom of the crater was in ruins, evidence of an intense battle. Sukuna's presence, however, had become so faint it was almost impossible to detect. Itadori also appeared to have regained control of his body.
His gaze shifted toward Sol, silently seeking an explanation.
"Where's Sukuna?" Maki Zen'in asked, gripping her spear as she remained on guard.
Itadori slowly stood, stretching his aching body.
"Ah, it looks like he's been suppressed for now."
As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at Sol.
Sol had no intention of explaining anything.
"It's settled. That's all that matters."
His tone was casual, as though he had merely handled a minor inconvenience.
Nanami studied him for a long moment but chose not to ask further questions.
Nobara looked ready to speak, but Nanami stopped her with a glance.
Now was not the time for explanations.
"It's good that both of you can still fight," Nanami said, turning to Itadori and Megumi. "The curtain over Shibuya has weakened considerably because of the disturbance, but it hasn't disappeared completely. Cursed Spirits and Cursed Users are still active. We continue the cleanup operation."
"Understood!"
Itadori immediately nodded with renewed determination.
Megumi took a deep breath and straightened himself. Although his Cursed Energy had been heavily depleted, the resolve had returned to his eyes.
The group regrouped and continued deeper into Shibuya.
Along the way, they encountered scattered Cursed Spirits and several stubborn Cursed Users. Under Nanami's leadership and the team's coordinated efforts, every threat was eliminated without major difficulty.
"Tsk, these things just keep coming," Nobara muttered after crushing another Cursed Spirit emerging from the rubble. She wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Stay focused, Nobara," Nanami reminded her. "Especially now. We can't afford to let our guard down."
After crossing several devastated streets, terrified screams and the grotesque roars of Cursed Spirits echoed from ahead.
A group of twisted Cursed Spirits, their bodies formed from countless suffering human faces, had surrounded several trapped civilians near the entrance of a collapsed train station.
Standing behind them was a young man with long dark hair tied back and a distinct stitch running across his forehead. A sinister smile rested on his face as he quietly watched the scene unfold.
"It's one of their accomplices!" Nobara shouted, raising her hammer as Cursed Energy gathered around it.
Nanami narrowed his eyes.
"Be careful. He can control Special Grade Cursed Spirits. He's no ordinary Cursed User."
Itadori didn't wait another second.
"Let those people go!"
He charged forward with a furious roar.
Mahito's smile twisted into something grotesque. With a casual wave of his hand, several human-faced Cursed Spirits shrieked and lunged toward Itadori.
The battle erupted instantly.
Itadori's Cursed Energy reinforced fist smashed straight through one Cursed Spirit's head, but more flooded in from every direction.
Megumi immediately summoned his Divine Dogs. The black and white Shikigami darted into the swarm, tearing through the approaching Cursed Spirits.
"Nobara, cover the left flank!"
Nanami drew his blunt sword and moved like a flash, cutting down two Cursed Spirits attempting to attack from behind.
Maki's spear sliced through the air, pinning a flying Cursed Spirit to a nearby wall.
Mahito remained in the rear, observing the battle with amusement. His fingers moved lazily as more Cursed Spirits crawled from the surrounding shadows.
Every so often, his eyes drifted toward Sol, who stood atop a nearby building.
Sol's aura was unnaturally composed.
Itadori continued fighting through the endless horde, every punch carrying his frustration.
Several of the trapped civilians were already wounded. The sight only made him attack more fiercely.
"Yuji, don't overextend yourself!" Nanami warned.
But Itadori had already pushed too far ahead.
Three Cursed Spirits attacked him simultaneously.
Just as one of them swung its claws toward his back...
Bang.
Its body suddenly stopped, as though it had collided with an invisible barrier.
The next moment, it shattered into countless fragments and vanished.
Itadori immediately turned and destroyed another Cursed Spirit with a punch before looking toward Sol.
Sol had not moved.
It was as though nothing had happened.
Mahito narrowed his eyes, an intrigued smile spreading across his face.
"Interesting."
He immediately changed tactics.
Instead of attacking directly, the Cursed Spirits focused on delaying the group.
At the same time, the ground began to writhe.
Dark shadows spread outward as Mahito quietly prepared another technique.
"Don't let him finish!" Megumi sensed the abnormal flow of Cursed Energy and quickly formed hand signs.
"Nue!"
The lightning-charged Shikigami dived from above.
A grotesque wall of flesh suddenly burst from the ground, blocking its path.
Mahito chuckled.
"Too late."
The earth split apart.
Countless pale arms burst from the cracks, reaching for everyone's legs.
"Damn it!"
Nanami slashed apart the hands grabbing at him, but he couldn't break through quickly enough to help the others.
Itadori roared as he tried to force his way forward, only to be restrained by even more grasping arms.
Then, in an instant...
Every pale arm was cleanly severed at the wrist.
The spreading shadows vanished just as abruptly.
The distorted space surrounding the trapped civilians was erased by an unseen force.
Freed at last, the civilians collapsed onto the ground, trembling in confusion as they struggled to understand what had just happened.
Mahito's smile disappeared.
His pupils contracted as he locked his gaze onto Sol.
"Was that you?"
Sol finally looked at him.
His expression remained completely composed.
"Your tricks are boring."
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