The train station flickered.
The pachinko machine above them spun faster than ever—
Lights blurring into streaks of color.
Hakari's grin never faded.
"…C'mon…" he whispered.
"…Just one."
The final reels slowed.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Silence.
Then—
777.
The entire domain stopped.
Yuji's eyes widened. "…WAIT—HE GOT IT?!"
Nobara screamed, "NO WAY—!"
Megumi's expression darkened instantly. "…It's over."
Takeru didn't move.
But his grip tightened.
"…So that's it."
Hakari exhaled slowly—like he'd been holding his breath for years.
"…Jackpot."
The train station cracked.
Light burst through the seams of reality.
And then—
It shattered.
The domain collapsed like glass breaking underwater.
And in its place—
Sound.
A soft, emotional melody began to play.
"Admiring You."
Yuji blinked. "…Is that… music?"
Nobara froze. "…Why is it sad?!"
Megumi whispered, "…That's the theme."
Takeru's eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses.
"…4 minutes and 11 seconds."
Hakari stretched his arms casually.
"…Alright."
His cursed energy exploded outward.
Not violent.
Not unstable.
Limitless. Overflowing. Constant.
His body shimmered with Reverse Cursed Technique—
Wounds healing instantly.
Breathing steady.
Every movement alive with unnatural momentum.
"…Let's dance."
Yuji stepped forward immediately. "I'LL TAKE HIM!"
Takeru raised a hand slightly.
"…No."
Yuji blinked. "…Huh?"
Takeru stepped forward instead.
Slow.
Controlled.
"…I'll handle it."
Megumi's eyes sharpened. "…Don't underestimate him."
Nobara muttered, "…He literally can't die right now."
Hakari cracked his neck.
"…You sure about that?"
He vanished.
BOOM—
Takeru blocked instantly.
The impact shattered the ground beneath them.
Another strike.
Another.
Another.
Each punch faster. Heavier. Impossible to read.
Takeru slid back slightly—
Feet carving lines into the floor.
His Six Eyes flared.
"…No damage retention."
"…Infinite output loop."
Sukuna's voice murmured inside him.
"…Annoying, isn't it?"
Takeru didn't respond.
Hakari laughed mid-fight.
"…You seeing it yet?"
"…Doesn't matter what you do—"
"…I come back faster."
A punch landed—
Takeru blocked—but still slid back.
Yuji watched from the side. "…He's keeping up with him…"
Megumi narrowed his eyes. "…No. He's adjusting."
Nobara gritted her teeth. "…But how do you beat that?!"
Hakari surged again—
Faster.
More aggressive.
No hesitation.
The music continued playing softly in the background—
Like the world didn't care about the violence inside it.
Takeru exhaled slowly.
"…So this is jackpot mode."
Hakari grinned.
"…4 minutes and 11 seconds of me not dying."
A pause.
"…Try to keep up."
He rushed again.
Takeru moved too.
For the first time—
Their blows matched evenly.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
Shockwaves tore through the arena.
Yuji's eyes widened. "…They're actually equal right now…"
Megumi whispered, "…That's the problem."
Nobara blinked. "…What problem?"
"…He only needs four minutes."
The music continued.
Soft.
Haunting.
"Admiring You…"
Hakari smiled wider.
"…Let's see who lasts longer."
Takeru's eyes sharpened.
"…Then I only need to survive."
A beat.
And the fight escalated again.