With intelligence provided earlier by Yuki Tsukumo and the others regarding open-barrier domains, Tengen and the group had already prepared countermeasures.
The Void Barrier of the Star Corridor Palace was Tengen's home ground.
Although his cursed spirit-like nature prevented him from appearing directly before Kenjaku, he could still play a significant role.
By manipulating the cursed energy contained within the barrier and channeling it into Kenjaku's manifested constructs, he could disrupt the internal balance of their cursed energy composition.
Tengen could accomplish this—but it would take time.
Thus, Yuki, Choso, and Ino Takuma bore the responsibility of stalling!
Boom!
The shattered shell of the Void Barrier—
Masamichi Yaga and Kento Nanami re-entered the battlefield!
Yuki rose while gripping her shikigami, her face smeared with blood, yet a mocking grin spread across it.
"Loser… the one waiting to die next… is you!"
With the open-barrier domain dispelled by Tengen, Kenjaku was forced into a state of technique burnout.
Lacking the innate talent to use reverse cursed technique to recover from burnout, his expression darkened like still water.
Meanwhile—
In an unnoticed corner of the Tombs of the Star Corridor, faint footsteps echoed.
Tap… tap…
Sendai Colony
Under the cold, blood-red gaze of Zenin Mirai, Uro Takako trembled uncontrollably.
Despite possessing special-grade-level strength, Uro now resembled a powerless girl.
So terrified… she couldn't even speak.
Boom!
The shattered barrier shell—
The massive body of Kurourushi had already been reduced to pools of thick, viscous blood across the ground.
Long tendrils. Curved eyes.
Amid the large swathes of vivid purple blood, fragments of unidentifiable organs remained.
Kurourushi was a terrifying cursed spirit capable of infinite consumption and asexual reproduction.
As a "player," even after death, its body did not dissipate.
Logically, even within one minute, it should have been difficult for White Zetsu to eliminate a special grade of such strength.
However—
Kurourushi's abilities were completely countered by White Zetsu.
Its near-infinite offspring were annihilated by even more numerous white entities within Zetsu's domain.
The layered genetic viruses it wielded were entirely ignored by Zetsu's own cursed-spirit-like physiology.
He pulled out a cigarette. Lit it.
Running a hand through his spiky hair, Zetsu looked down at the remains, expression lonely.
Through the drifting smoke, he muttered in an exaggerated tone:
"Invincibility… really is lonely."
Seeing this, Uro's heart pounded even faster.
A thousand years ago—
As captain of the Fujiwara clan's assassination unit, the "Sun, Moon, and Stars Advance Squad," Uro had lived her entire life in the shadows under the doctrine of "selflessness for the public good."
Assassins were, by definition, people unworthy even of names.
The name "Uro" had only been given when those hypocritical elites pushed her out as a scapegoat.
This reincarnation—
Was, to her, a second life.
Her only chance to choose her own path.
Submit—or die?
Previously, like Ryu Ishigori, she had intended to kill the strong opponent before her.
Her delayed action stemmed from her technique's reactive nature.
Her technique, "Sky Manipulation ", allowed her to treat the sky as a surface, pulling and bending it—turning three-dimensional space into a two-dimensional plane.
But she hadn't expected—
That even her ultimate ability, which could reflect all incoming attacks—
Would be so utterly outclassed.
Sensing the impatience in Mirai's gaze, Uro trembled as she dropped to one knee.
"…I submit."
Rooftop of the Underground Casino
Aside from the condition proposed by the two principals to legalize the casino—
Kinji Hakari stared at the bloodied Yuji Itadori, then finally decided to help suppress the Culling Game.
Within Yuji's dull eyes, Hakari saw something—
Like a machine.
Like a component.
A burning drive unlike anything else.
That unique fervor convinced him.
"Let's be clear—I'll participate in the Culling Game, and you can decide how to use the points."
Hakari turned to the group and stated his final condition:
"But I won't fight that monster. I'll only help you unseal Satoru Gojo."
In Hakari's view, their strongest forces were himself and Yuta Okkotsu.
Neither stood a chance against that "monster."
Unsealing Gojo was the limit of what he could do.
"No problem. We planned to avoid him anyway."
"Fight or retreat—we'll decide after Gojo is back."
Panda, acting as representative, agreed to all conditions.
Just as the group finalized their agreement—
A golden insect-like shikigami appeared above Yuji's head.
Ding!
"Kogane: Announcement! A player has added a new rule to the Culling Game!"
Rule 10: Players may freely enter and exit other colonies!
Due to Rule 8—
Players whose points do not change within 19 days will lose their cursed techniques—
This addition did not disrupt the system's continuity.
Thus, it was approved.
As the group reacted in surprise, Yuji spoke calmly:
"It's Ryomen Sukuna inside me. He must have made a binding vow with Kenjaku a thousand years ago."
Even without entering a colony, Yuji had already become a player.
Using the rule previously added by Hajime Kashimo, they quickly identified the player who had accumulated 100 points.
When the name appeared—
Their expressions darkened.
"Zenin… Mirai!"
Killing a sorcerer grants 5 points.
Killing a civilian grants 1 point.
Within the Sendai Colony—
Aside from the four major powerhouses, countless civilians were still trapped.
Some thought it was a dream.
Others believed they had become protagonists in a story.
Each had their own reasons for remaining in this hell.
But with a mere gesture—
Mirai's points surged.
"Guard the colony entrance. Allow entry—deny exit."
That was his command to Uro.
Call it "guard duty" if you like—
In truth, it meant being a watchdog.
With Rule 10 in effect, some players would inevitably try to escape.
Even knowing they'd lose their techniques—or die after 19 days—
Some would still choose to spend their final days outside rather than kill each other.
Mirai didn't care whether they lived or died.
But if they died outside—
Their cursed energy would dissipate.
The Zenin clan's sorcerers had already spread across Japan's colonies to stand guard.
Entry allowed.
Escapees—killed.
As a special grade, Uro had barely earned the right to guard a gate.
"How is it over there?"
Mirai possessed the power to break through barriers.
But since he had entered the game willingly with full knowledge of the rules, it formed a self-imposed binding vow.
Thus, he abided by the system—
Using 1 point as the price to move between colonies.
Hearing the question, White Zetsu grinned.
"If we go now… the timing's perfect."
"I see…"
Mirai's gaze sharpened—
As if piercing through barriers, across space and time—
Reaching straight into the Tombs of the Star Corridor.
"Let's go. It's time to harvest."
As his words fell—
A surge of cursed energy erupted, his black hair whipping like a torrent—
And his figure vanished instantly from the colony.
Uro swallowed hard, her face filled with uncertainty.
That brief surge just now—
Seemed even more terrifying than before.
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