Boom!!!
Two figures collided violently in mid-air.
A shockwave comparable to a missile explosion instantly swept across the entire juvenile detention center.
Walls collapsed and the ground cracked.
The destructive power generated by just the first collision far exceeded the previous battle with the Special Grade Cursed Spirit!
"Hahaha! So fast! So fast!"
Sukuna laughed wildly, his fists raining down like a torrential storm.
Each punch carried enough cursed energy to shatter steel.
Even with only the power of two fingers, as the King of Curses, his physical strength and control over cursed energy had long ago reached the realm of the gods.
Yoru did not take the hits head-on.
Although the naked eye couldn't fully capture Sukuna's movements, the extreme reaction speed brought by Total Concentration: Constant made him like a fallen leaf dancing in a thunderstorm.
Every time, he evaded fatal blows by a hair's breadth.
At the same time, he counterattacked!
"Sun Breathing, First Form: Dance!"
Swish!
A perfect arc of flame bloomed in the air.
A deep wound, visible to the bone, instantly appeared on Sukuna's arm.
"Oh?"
Sukuna glanced at the wound.
Not only did the wound fail to heal, but it also emitted sizzling white smoke, as if it were being scorched by the sun.
"This feeling... as I thought, it's that!"
The fanaticism in Sukuna's eyes grew even more intense.
"Then try this!"
He waved his hand—no wind-up, no incantation.
Countless invisible slashes suddenly appeared in the air.
Cursed Technique: Dismantle!
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Yoru's jujutsu high uniform was instantly shredded, and dozens of fine bloodlines appeared on his skin.
It was too fast, and invisible.
Is this the cursed technique of the King of Curses?
Even a casual strike was enough to dice a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit into mincemeat.
"What's wrong? What's wrong? Is that all?"
Sukuna pressed closer, each wave of his hand a net of lethal slashes.
"Can't your eyes see it? Then show me how you dodge!"
Yoru fought while retreating.
His breathing became more hurried, and his body temperature was rising rapidly.
38 degrees... 39 degrees... 40 degrees...
The sound of his heartbeat was like a beating drum.
Every heartbeat felt like it was squeezing out his body's potential.
[WARNING: HOST'S BODY TEMPERATURE IS TOO HIGH! HEART RATE HAS EXCEEDED THE LIMIT!]
[WARNING: CURRENT STRENGTH CANNOT MATCH THE KING OF CURSES. FATALITY RATE 100%!]
The system's red alerts flashed frantically in his mind.
'System... is there a way...'
Yoru roared in his heart, unwillingness and anger burning in his chest.
'Even if it's just for a moment, give me the power to slay him!'
[STRONG WILL DETECTED FROM THE HOST... HIDDEN MECHANISM TRIGGERED.]
[WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACTIVATE "BINDING VOW"?]
[COST: FORCIBLY UNLOCK 40% SYNCHRONIZATION RATE (INCLUDING SLAYER MARK/TRANSPARENT WORLD) FOR ONE MINUTE. SIDE EFFECT: SYNCHRONIZATION RATE WILL BE LOCKED FOR ONE MONTH AND CANNOT BE INCREASED.]
"Activate it!"
Yoru didn't hesitate for a second.
Never mind being locked for a month—even if it cost him half his life, he was willing to do it to protect this place!
Boom!
Yoru ignored the screams of his body and stared intently at Sukuna's movements.
Those invisible slashes... he couldn't see them, but he could feel them.
The flow of the wind, the direction of cursed energy, the aim of the killing intent.
At the edge of life and death, Yoru's world suddenly became quiet, and all sound vanished.
Only those lethal trajectories became clearly visible in his mind.
Now is the time!
"Sun Breathing, Fourth Form: Fake Rainbow!"
Yoru's figure suddenly became blurred, as if turning into seven overlapping afterimages.
Sukuna's slashes all landed on the afterimages.
"Hm? Visual trickery?"
Sukuna was slightly stunned.
In that instant, Yoru's figure appeared above Sukuna's head.
The blade in his hand was no longer just crimson; it emitted a light like the core of the sun.
His body temperature broke 40 degrees.
Deep red flame marks instantly crawled across Yoru's forehead and left cheek.
[BINDING VOW EFFECTIVE! SYNCHRONIZATION RATE FORCIBLY INCREASED TO 40%!]
[TRANSPARENT WORLD... ACTIVATED!]
Yoru's world changed completely.
Sukuna's lightning-fast movements became slow and clear in his eyes; he could even see every muscle contraction and the flow of cursed energy.
"Sun Breathing, Eleventh Form..."
Yoru's voice was as calm as a divine oracle, yet it carried the majesty of judgment.
His figure transformed into a roaring fire dragon, carrying the momentum to sever everything as it wove through the net of invisible slashes.
"Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance!!!"
Rumble!!!
The terrifying fire dragon instantly swallowed Sukuna's figure.
Along with the surrounding ruins, it turned everything into a lava-like purgatory.
"Aaaaaagh!"
Inside the sea of fire, Sukuna's roar of pain and excitement echoed, but it wasn't a scream of agony.
It was the joy of enjoying the battle!
A moment later, the flames dissipated.
Yoru leaned on his sword, gasping for breath.
His hands were a bloody mess from the impact, and his consciousness was on the brink of collapse.
On the other side...
One of Sukuna's arms had been cleanly severed, the cut burning with golden flames that suppressed the cursed energy's regeneration.
His body was covered in charred blade marks.
"Huff... huff..."
Sukuna looked at his severed arm, a flicker of shock appearing in his eyes for the first time.
Then, that shock turned into extreme fanaticism.
"Interesting! So interesting!"
"Not only can you wound my soul, but you can also suppress the regeneration of Reverse Cursed Technique..."
"Brat, what kind of monster lives inside your body?!"
He wanted to fight again, but at that moment, his body suddenly stiffened.
The black markings on his face began to fade.
"Tsk... is time up?"
Sukuna clicked his tongue in annoyance.
He glanced at the swaying Yoru, his eyes carrying a hint of regret and a trace of anticipation.
"Remember this, brat."
"My name is Ryomen Sukuna."
"Next time we meet, I'll tear your bones out one by one."
After saying that, his body went limp, and the red light in his eyes vanished.
Yuji Itadori's consciousness took back control of the body.
"Yo... Yoru?"
Yuji opened his eyes dizzily.
He saw ruins everywhere and a figure standing tall like a god of war.
"That's good... you're okay..."
Yuji managed a weak smile.
Just as he tried to stand up, suddenly—
Pfft!
A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out.
The hollow in his chest where Sukuna had ripped out his heart finally erupted with fatal pain.
"Ah..."
Yuji's pupils dilated suddenly, and his body fell heavily backward.
He landed in a pool of blood.
"Itadori!!!"
Megumi Fushiguro, who had just arrived, let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Yoru wanted to reach out to pull him back.
But before his hand could even reach halfway, it slumped down powerlessly, and his vision plunged into complete darkness.
In his final moment of consciousness...
He heard the distant sound of sirens and Satoru Gojo's belated teleportation.
Rain began to fall.
Washing away the blood and sins that covered the ground.
This night.
Someone became a god.
Someone fell.
The gears of fate, at this very moment, completely shattered.