The next moment, Rin raised his hand and waved, and dozens of Cursed Energy patterns rapidly spread across the train car.
Hundreds of Cursed Spirits of various forms appeared in response, instantly dispersing to every corner of the subway.
Some guarded the car doors, some surrounded the crowd, and others clung to the windows, forming a tight protective circle.
"First, protect the people. Falling into fear is one thing, but their lives must be preserved."
Rin's voice was calm, his gaze sweeping over the ordinary people still struggling in the illusion.
Maki looked at the defense line formed by the Cursed Spirits, her tense nerves relaxing slightly.
Her condition had improved significantly, her eyes becoming clear again. Remembering Rin's special ability, she immediately suggested:
"By the way, Rin, don't you have Cursed Spirits that can store living beings? If you just let the Cursed Spirits swallow these people to protect them, wouldn't we not have to worry about shadow sneak attacks?"
Rin shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his tone:
"It won't work. My storage-type Cursed Spirits can safely accommodate a maximum of just over a hundred Jujutsu Sorcerers.
There are eight or nine hundred people here; they simply won't fit."
He paused, then added:
"Moreover, Jujutsu Sorcerers' bodies can withstand the environment inside a Cursed Spirit's body, but these are all ordinary people.
Their bodies are too fragile. I'm not sure if prolonged stay inside a Cursed Spirit's belly would cause adverse reactions or even endanger their lives."
Maki's expression darkened again. Looking at the people in the car still screaming frantically and trembling all over, her tone was anxious:
"Then what do we do now? We can't just keep waiting like this. If we wait any longer, everyone will be completely swallowed by fear!"
"Don't worry."
Rin's gaze fell on the slightly wriggling shadow on the car floor. His Sharingan clearly captured the Cursed Energy flow of the Cursed Spirit. "I've mostly figured out the details of this Cursed Spirit."
He slowly said:
"It is a curse formed by humanity's fear of the unknown.
Humanity's most primitive fear is darkness, which is why it can manipulate shadows and create fear illusions.
In terms of raw power, it's not a top-tier Special Grade Cursed Spirit, but it hides within its domain, constantly growing stronger by feeding on everyone's fear, and it can hide without showing itself."
"I don't dare to directly activate my own domain right now; if two domains collide, these ordinary people would instantly die."
Rin's tone carried a hint of restraint:
"So if it keeps hiding and doesn't come out, I really don't have a good way to quickly deal with it."
"Then we can only watch helplessly?"
Maki clenched her long sword, saying unwillingly.
"Of course not."
Rin's lips curled into a cold arc, a sharp glint flashing in his blood-red pupils:
"It wants to feed on fear, it wants to ambush from the dark, so we will actively draw it out."
His Sharingan swept across the car interior, finally stopping on a few people with the most intense fear:
"It has no resistance to extreme fear. As long as we throw out 'bait', it will inevitably be unable to resist making a move.
At that time, it will be its death."
Maki immediately understood what he meant, her brows furrowing slightly:
"You mean, use those people deeply entrenched in illusions as bait?"
"Yes."
Rin didn't shy away:
"This is the fastest and most effective method. We can set up an ambush around the bait. As soon as it appears, I can immediately pinpoint its main body and deal a heavy blow.
As long as it's injured, its domain will show flaws, and the illusion will weaken."
In the darkness outside the train car, the shadow wriggled more and more frequently, seemingly echoing the fear inside the car, and also as if urging them to make a decision.
"How can that be!"
Maki immediately spoke up to stop him, her tone filled with unshakeable determination:
"We are here to protect everyone; how can we use innocent people as bait?"
"This is already the best method."
Rin's voice remained cold and rational, without the slightest emotional fluctuation:
"If we wait any longer, more and more people will be swallowed by fear, and more people will die. Exchanging the risk of one person for the survival of hundreds is worth it."
"It's not worth it!"
Maki shook her head sharply, her eyes full of stubbornness:
"No one's life can be easily sacrificed! Let me do it, I'll be the bait!"
Before her words finished, she turned and rushed out of the protective range of Hymn of Prayer, completely exposing herself to the Cursed Spirit's domain.
The power of fear within the domain instantly surged over, her face immediately turned pale, but her eyes remained firm.
"No!"
Rin refused without hesitation, quickly stepping forward, grabbing the middle-aged man who was on the verge of collapse, and then reaching out to grab Maki's wrist:
"I can't guarantee your safety as bait. If you die, how am I supposed to explain it to Gojo Satoru?"
He dragged both of them, heading straight out of the subway.
"Let me do it! I'm not afraid!"
Maki struggled behind him, her voice trembling slightly but exceptionally firm:
"From the moment I decided to join Jujutsu High, I was prepared to sacrifice myself at any time!"
She tried to break free from Rin's hand, but after leaving the protection of Hymn of Prayer, the domain's illusion once again invaded.
The mockery from her family, the accusations of being a "failure," surged into her mind like a tide. Her condition instantly worsened, her steps became unsteady, and her face was as pale as paper.
Rin looked back, seeing her clearly on the verge of collapsing yet still stubbornly trying to push forward, and a sudden surge of nameless anger rose in his heart.
"Slap!"
A crisp slapping sound rang out.
Rin raised his hand and lightly slapped Maki's face.
The force wasn't great, but it carried an undeniable decisiveness, instantly breaking her obsession.
"Shut up!"
Rin's voice carried a rare anger, yet it was exceptionally clear:
"If you die like this, it will be meaningless! While you're alive, you can save more people, so stay put!"
The silver-white Cursed Energy of Hymn of Prayer once again surged into Maki's body through his fingertips, completely dispelling the illusion.
Maki froze, covering her burning cheek, staring blankly at Rin's retreating back.
Grievance, unwillingness, anger... countless emotions surged in her heart, tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
She stood rooted to the spot, watching Rin drag the middle-aged man, step by step, into the boundless darkness.
The fearful screams inside the car continued, and the shadows outside the windows wriggled more and more wildly, as if something terrifying was waiting in the darkness for its "prey" to arrive.
Maki clenched the long sword in her hand, her fingernails digging deep into her palm.
She knew Rin was right, but she just couldn't get past that hurdle in her heart.
In the darkness, Rin stopped and pushed the middle-aged man into an open area. His Cursed Energy surged.
"Come out, I know you're watching." Rin's voice echoed in the darkness, carrying a cold provocation:
"The food you want, I've brought it to you."
As soon as his words fell, the shadows on the ground suddenly surged wildly, countless dark figures converging from all directions, forming a huge vortex.
The pitch-black Cursed Spirit's true form finally revealed itself, drawn by the bait.
This Cursed Spirit had only just been born; its consciousness and thought process were not yet complete, possessing only primal instincts like a wild beast.
Under the temptation of food, it finally appeared.
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