As soon as the barrier was erected, all of Tokyo was enveloped in a giant tent with a radius of ten kilometers, centered on Shibuya. Such a terrifying change was an event that required a rapid response even in the eyes of the country's silent government.
Someone frantically slapped the invisible barrier before them, their palms turning red, and hysterically roared: "Why can't I get out?! What the hell is this?! What is this invisible wall?!"
The crowd pushed and jostled. Some people stumbled, fell, and panicked as they got up, pointing at the air and shouting in terror: "Is this an alien invasion?! Why are we locked in here?! Is this a monster like Brainiac?!"
In the chaos, someone's voice exploded. Someone grabbed a passerby's arm and shouted in a trembling voice: "Wait! Did you hear that? Nishida Kojūrō Kagetatsu! Find him, and we can get out!"
"Nishida Kojūrō Kagetatsu! Come and save us!!" Someone collapsed to the ground, covering their face and crying, their voice so hoarse it could break.
Even more people roared in panic, pointing in all directions and frantically searching: "That bastard—Nishida Kojūrō Kagetatsu! Find him for me!"
"Where is Nishida Kojūrō Kagetatsu?!" Someone anxiously stomped their foot, their panicked gaze darting through the crowd.
There were also those who were confused, muttering in bewilderment: "Nishida Kojūrō Kagetatsu... who is that?"
"Nishida Kojūrō Kagetatsu, come here!" Cries of despair rang out one after another, shattering against the echo of panic within the dead-silent barrier.
On the roof of the tallest building in Shibuya, Kenjaku leaned on the railing to survey the entire city, locked within the barrier at his feet. He raised his eyes to look at Demon Head Kijuro beside him and quietly asked:
"Why don't we take these mortals hostage to restrain Kagetatsu and make him unable to fight at full strength?"
Such a naive argument made Demon Head Kijuro laugh out loud. As the smile gradually faded, he slowly explained:
"The method you mentioned is too low-level. You want to provoke him? That's the most meaningless thing you can do."
Kenjaku slightly raised his eyebrows, his tail lifting slightly, overflowing with playful doubt: "Oh?"
For an old enemy he recognized, Demon Head Kijuro never hesitated to praise him—not only to elevate his opponent but also to elevate himself behind a mask. Besides, his words were true to the letter.
"Although Kagetatsu is bound by these stupid moral principles, he is not pedantic or rigid. Once he decides that saving a few people will lead to the death of even more because of it, he will not hesitate to make the most rational choice."
"Moreover, once you fully provoke him, you will only make him burst out with even stronger power against you. This approach cannot restrain the opponent; it only fans the flames and makes him fight back with all his might. That is simply stupid."
Hearing this, Kenjaku's eyes turned slightly, and he quietly asked:
"Are you saying that Kagetatsu has not yet recovered all his strength?"
"All his strength? Hahaha, don't make me laugh." Demon Head Kijuro sneered, his brows and eyes flashing with obvious contempt, his tone a bit mocking.
"His current strength is not even half of his peak."
"Not... not even half?"
Kenjaku's voice suddenly trembled, his pupils contracted, and his entire figure froze as if struck by lightning. The calm on his face was completely shattered, leaving only incredulous astonishment.
The murmur in his heart grew endlessly, mixed with indescribable fear and confusion, an uncontrollable throbbing emerging within.
Less than half of his peak strength, and he's already this strong? If Kagetatsu goes all out, how powerful will he be?
At this moment, the astonishment in Kenjaku's heart gradually faded, replaced by an almost pious admiration.
Kagetatsu's figure unconsciously occupied all his thoughts, and in his mind was this powerful and captivating man.
At the same time, a seed quietly took root and sprouted in his heart—a seed desperately wanting to see Kagetatsu's full power, to see his peak form, which could no longer be erased.
"Then why are you doing all this? Do I need to use some ritual to become stronger?"
Ryomen Sukuna, who had been silently standing on the wall behind him, still maintained his four-armed posture, with broad shoulders slightly lowered, a hint of defiant coldness at the tips of his brows, and obvious impatience in his voice as he opened his mouth to ask his questions.
Although he had now obtained eighteen fingers, even if he relied only on the power of ten roots, he had already far surpassed his former peak. But he knew better than anyone in his heart that an insurmountable gap still existed between him and Kagetatsu.
Whenever Kagetatsu's face flashed through his consciousness, like an enraged King Kong, bringing a sense of oppression, a sharp burning sensation appeared in his heart—the humiliation of being completely crushed by a powerful being. It only made him more unwilling to give up.
With such little power, you dare to try to defeat him? That's just a fantasy.
"Of course not."
Demon Head Kijuro slowly turned around, a hint of confident calculation in his eyes. The corners of his mouth curled into a cold arc, word by word, gradually revealing his overall plan:
"We have so many hostages in our hands. There's only one thing left to do—force Kagetatsu to establish a binding vow that can restrict his own power. As long as he suppresses his power by ninety percent, even just you will have a chance to defeat him."
"We? Then you."
"Of course, I'm going to do something big." After these words, Demon Head Kijuro took out the "Chronicles of the Pacified Demon Realm"—a counterfeit turned into a cursed tool—which was now emitting an ominous power.
"I want to use the power of this counterfeit to recall those who were once defeated and sealed by Kagetatsu."
"Then why don't you find those guys in advance?"
"Because there will be a particularly large commotion with this. I must ensure that you can hold off Kagetatsu before I do it."
As he spoke, Demon Head Kijuro saw Sukuna's contemptuous face and said sarcastically:
"Why, are you afraid?"
"Hmph, afraid? Let him come. Even if he's only willing to exchange fifty percent of his power, I can still defeat him!"
Seeing Sukuna utter the most cowardly words in the most hateful tone, Demon Head Kijuro instantly felt relieved and put away the "Chronicles of the Pacified Demon Realm."
"In that case, I'll leave it to you."
After these words, Demon Head Kijuro flew away in a strange posture, leaving only Sukuna and Kenjaku.
At the same time, at the outermost edge of the barrier, auxiliary supervisor Akira Nitta anxiously called the Jujutsu Technical Supervision Department to confirm the relevant information about the account.
"The barrier does not exclude sorcerers, but ordinary people cannot freely enter or exit. There is no signal on the phone, and everyone inside is talking about letting Nishida Kagetatsu through!"
"Nishida Kagetatsu? The past life of that reincarnated person?"
"Yes, to be precise, it's Nosaka Locke."
"Damn it, he's dealing with the invasion at Kyoto Jujutsu High School."
"What about Gojo Satoru?"
"Gojo Satoru is also dealing with a special-grade cursed spirit from hell in Tokyo! Besides, there's a mountain near Tokyo that's been cut off. The students from both schools have also lost contact in that area. Mr. Nanami has already gone to rescue the students."
"Damn it! So who can we rely on now..."
Akira Nitta bit her upper lip tightly, her lower lip almost turning red. Her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes, her fingertips turning white. She stood there, lost, her breathing even becoming a bit choked. She didn't know what to do for a while.
At that moment, a familiar figure quietly appeared before her.
"Itadori?!"
But when she clearly saw the man's expression, Nitta's heart suddenly tightened, and a trace of uncertainty quietly crept in.
The classmate Itadori, who used to be so cheerful and lively, always with a light in his eyes and even a warmth in his smile, was now covered in a layer of indissoluble sadness. His freshness had completely disappeared, replaced by a nearly numb indifference. Such an unfamiliar look made her heart clench.
Why? How could the always carefree classmate Itadori have such eyes?
Yuji Itadori ignored Akira Nitta but looked at the barrier before him and slowly said:
"Sukuna..."
"I'm coming for you."
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