"Garbhadhatu: Realm of Death."
As the syllables fell, the surrounding space reconstructed instantly.
The original corridor vanished, replaced by countless dark-red fleshy walls and twisted tentacles.
Death.
The word had never appeared so clearly in everyone's minds.
Splat!
There was no time to react.
Megumi Fushiguro's newly summoned Divine Dog: Totality exploded into a mist of blood the very instant the domain expanded.
"Nue!"
He tried to form another hand sign, but a terrifying pressure slammed him to the ground, his bones creaking under the unbearable weight.
All connections to his Shikigami were instantly severed.
"Megumi!"
Nobara cried out, but before she could turn her head, an invisible slash was already closing in on her throat.
"Watch out!"
Yuji Itadori, relying on beast-like intuition, lunged forward and used his own body to shield Nobara.
Slash!
Blood sprayed as a severed hand flew high into the air.
"Gwaaaaah!"
Yuji clutched his stump in agony, collapsing to his knees.
To save Nobara, his left hand and half of his forearm had been cleanly sliced off.
"Yuji! Nobara! Megumi!"
Yoru roared, his Shiranui transforming into a dragon of fire as he tried to cut through the approaching cursed energy.
CLANG!!!
A deafening, ear-piercing explosion rang out. The massive recoil instantly coursed through his body, sending Yoru flying like a cannonball as he slammed heavily into the barrier at the edge of the domain.
"Cough..."
Yoru spat out a mouthful of blood. His right hand trembled violently as he gripped the blade; his palm had split open, and blood slid down the hilt, making it nearly impossible to hold on.
'It's too strong. Is this the true power of a Special Grade?'
Inside a domain, all attacks carried a guaranteed-hit effect, and their power was boosted by more than just a single level.
Even though he desperately pushed Total Concentration: Constant to its limits to sharpen his senses, he could only barely catch a trace of the attacks, leaving him utterly unable to parry.
True despair.
He didn't even have the right to resist, left like a fish on a chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered.
The Cursed Spirit let out a gleeful laugh as it raised its hand, preparing to deliver the final blow.
Cursed energy within the domain converged frantically, forming a massive black sphere that hung over their heads like a black hole.
Once it fell, not even their bones would remain.
"Move... move, damn it!"
Yoru gritted his teeth, staring fixedly at the black sphere. It was a certain-death situation—unless he could be faster! Faster than this guaranteed-hit attack!
[SYSTEM: DING! HOST DETECTED IN A LIFE-OR-DEATH CRISIS!]
[SYSTEM: TASK 'BREAKING THE DEADLOCK' REWARDS ISSUED IN ADVANCE!]
[SYSTEM: ACTING PROGRESS +5% (CURRENT 10%)!]
[SYSTEM: CONGRATULATIONS, HOST! UNLOCKED RANDOM BREATHING STYLE BRANCH—THUNDER BREATHING!]
The moment the system notification rang out, Yoru moved.
There was no need for thought, no need for adaptation.
The violent power of lightning instantly flooded his body, turning him into a golden afterimage.
Inhaling, drawing his sword—every movement was completed within a thousandth of a second.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form..."
The black sphere plummeted.
The final crack before the domain fully sealed was right before his eyes.
Megumi only saw a blinding, searing flash of lightning explode from Yoru.
"Thunderclap and Flash!!!"
BOOM!!!
In the darkness, a searing bolt of golden lightning tore through space!
It wasn't just fast; it carried the terrifying high temperatures of Sun Breathing, instantly igniting the air as it passed.
Fast!
Faster than thought!
The others couldn't even see what had happened before an unstoppable force slammed into their chests.
"GO!!!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara felt their bodies suddenly become weightless.
It wasn't an attack, but a rescue.
A split second before the domain fully closed, they were forcibly blasted out through that final sliver of hope!
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Yuji scrambled to his feet, ignoring the agonizing pain in his severed arm as he stared frantically ahead.
"Yoru!!!"
In the final moment before the barrier sealed, they saw the scene inside.
Yoru stood alone amidst the ruins.
His uniform was tattered and torn, but the black blade was still held firmly in his hand.
Golden electricity and red flames intertwined around him, looking like a god of war descending upon the earth.
He looked back at them with a complex gaze.
"Don't come in."
Yoru's voice drifted through the barrier, carrying a static-like magnetic quality.
"Now then..."
Hum!
The barrier sealed completely.
Locking Yoru and the Special Grade Cursed Spirit together inside.
"Yoru!!!"
Yuji rushed forward like a madman, pounding on the black barrier with his remaining hand.
It didn't budge an inch.
The barrier was like a wall of sighs, separating two different worlds.
"Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!"
Yuji knelt on the ground, blood from his severed wrist pooling on the floor.
"Why..."
"Why am I so weak?!"
"Grandpa told me... to die surrounded by people... not like this, watching my comrade go to his death!"
Negative emotions flooded Yuji's mind like a rising tide, drowning his reason.
Just then.
A low, evil voice, filled with endless temptation, echoed in his mind.
"Do you want to save him?"
"Do you want to kill everything here?"
"Give your body to me... and I will help you."
Yuji's body shuddered violently.
Ryomen Sukuna.
...
Inside the domain.
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit tilted its head, looking at the human who hadn't escaped.
It could feel that this human was actually at his limit.
That last strike had exhausted all his strength just to send his comrades out.
As for himself?
The recoil had his bones screaming in agony, and the blood from his split palm stained the sword hilt red.
There was no chance of escape.
Or rather, from the very beginning, he had never intended to leave alive.
Yoru struggled to straighten his back; with every breath, his lungs felt as though they were on fire.
The blade of Shiranui in his hand had turned a complete, vibrant crimson.
It was the sign of Sun Breathing being pushed to its absolute limit, a testament to him burning through his very life force.
"Escape?"
Yoru seemed to see right through the Cursed Spirit's thoughts, a cold smirk curling on his lips.
Zzt... Zzt...
Searing golden lightning crackled beneath his feet once more.
"At the very least..."
He slowly raised his sword, the tip pointing directly at the center of the Special Grade Cursed Spirit's forehead.
"I'm keeping you here with me."
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