At that moment, Fushiguro Megumi felt an intense surge of adrenaline. With the support of his Shikigami, he had actually managed to push Mahito into a stalemate.
"Divine Dogs!"
The twin Shikigami lunged forward. Their sharp claws ripped straight through Mahito's body, tearing him cleanly in half.
But Mahito only laughed.
His body split apart like liquid clay, forming two identical figures. Both halves counterattacked instantly, each landing a heavy punch on Megumi.
"Black Flash!"
Dark lightning erupted.
Megumi's body suddenly dissolved into an ink-like shadow, slipping away from the impact.
Behind Mahito, Megumi emerged from the darkness. His side glance carried a cold killing intent as cursed energy surged around his fist.
"Black Flash!"
Bang!
The strike landed with overwhelming force.
"What…"
Mahito's body exploded apart, blasted away as if struck by a speeding truck.
Yet in the next instant, he reappeared a short distance away, breathing heavily. A twisted smile crept across his face.
"That actually hurt."
He tilted his head mockingly.
"Too bad it did not damage my soul. At most, it just stung for a moment. But you…"
Megumi remained silent.
His fist was badly burned. The flesh had begun to rot, and the pain was excruciating.
It had been only a brief moment of contact. Megumi had even been the one attacking.
Even so, Mahito's Idle Transfiguration had activated instantly. The wound on the back of Megumi's finger was so deep that bone was visible.
"Itadori Yuji shouted from the side.
"Fushiguro! Nobara's Cursed Technique is the key to hurting him. First get Nanami and the others out of here!"
Yuji struggled to stand, his body trembling with exhaustion.
Megumi hesitated for a split second before reacting.
Within his Domain, shadows surged like waves of black ink. They tore open a temporary exit within Self-Embodiment of Perfection.
"I cannot hold it for long. Move now!"
The injured sorcerers immediately rushed toward the opening.
Outside the Domain.
Clang!
A hammer slammed into the black barrier, producing the sound of steel colliding.
Nobara Kugisaki gritted her teeth.
"Damn it! I thought Domains were weaker from the outside!"
"Weaker is only relative."
"Huh?"
The sudden voice made Nobara spin around.
Three figures had appeared behind her.
The first was a vigorous old man with a powerful build. A sake gourd hung from his waist.
The second was a deadpan man with explosive twin pigtails pointing upward, and a strange horizontal bar running across his nose.
The third was a refined looking boy accompanied by several mechanical units.
Mechamaru and Kōichi.
Finally, someone she recognized.
Kōichi stepped forward and asked, "Is Mahito inside there?"
Nobara nodded immediately.
The man with the pigtails spoke next.
"My younger brother, Itadori. Is he in there too?"
Then the old man asked with a casual smile.
"And Fushiguro Megumi, the future head of the Zenin Family. He is inside as well, correct?"
"Eh?"
Nobara's eyes widened like beans.
Her brain froze for a moment.
Right then, the surface of the Domain suddenly twisted, forming a swirling entrance.
Inside the Domain.
"Hurry!"
Megumi strained to maintain the exit. Todo Aoi and the others were preparing to escape when a figure suddenly burst through the opening from outside.
The moment Choso saw Itadori Yuji, strange memories flooded his mind.
The Death Painting brothers were sitting around a long table, sharing a meal.
Among them sat their youngest brother.
Itadori Yuji.
"Onii-san! Here, ah!"
Yuji smiled brightly as he lifted food with his chopsticks and offered it to Choso.
Back in reality, Choso's eyes filled with tears.
"That Shion guy… he really did not lie to me."
"He really is my brother."
Relief filled Choso's expression.
But then he noticed Yuji's battered body.
He also saw Mahito not far away, kicking and punching Yuji mercilessly.
Choso's cursed energy exploded.
"How dare you bully my brother!"
"Blood Manipulation, Crimson Thousand Needles!"
The strange bar across Choso's nose turned bright red. Blood seeped out and instantly transformed into countless thin needles that shot toward Mahito.
The sudden attack pierced Mahito's body full of holes.
Mahito regenerated quickly and turned around in confusion.
"Who is it this time?"
The next moment, the muscular old man, Zenin Naobito, rushed inside. Kōichi followed behind him with several Mechamaru units.
Naobito's gaze landed on Megumi.
His eyes lit up instantly.
"A Ten Shadows Technique user who learned Domain Expansion at fifteen."
His expression looked as if he had discovered a priceless treasure.
No wonder that stubborn fool Toji Fushiguro had refused to sell his son.
No, this needed to be discussed later.
Megumi absolutely had to return and inherit the Zenin family.
Meanwhile, Kōichi's attention locked onto Mahito.
Seeing him was like encountering a mortal enemy.
Mahito grinned.
"So it is you. How is the new body I gave you? Not even a thank you when we meet?"
Kōichi chuckled softly.
He opened a compartment in one of the Mechamaru units and took out several syringes filled with special reagents.
Mahito's expression froze.
He recognized them instantly.
During his previous battle with Mechamaru, those same reagents had injured him.
They were capable of damaging the soul.
Kōichi raised the syringe and spoke to everyone.
"This substance can harm his soul…"
Before he could finish speaking, Yuji suddenly grabbed one.
Yuji slowly stood up.
His eyes were calm and lifeless, like stagnant water, as he stared directly at Mahito.
Moments ago, Mahito had tortured his companions right in front of him. He had nearly killed them all.
If Megumi had not awakened Domain Expansion at the last moment, what Yuji would have witnessed next would have been pure tragedy.
As despair and helplessness filled his mind, Mahito's earlier words echoed within him.
"Itadori. You are me."
"I do not remember how many humans I have killed, just like you do not remember how many cursed spirits you have exorcised."
"Because none of it matters."
"This is war."
Yuji gripped the syringe and began walking toward Mahito.
Everyone could see that his emotional state was extremely unstable.
"Mahito."
"You were right."
Mahito blinked.
"Eh?"
Looking at Yuji's emotionless face, an inexplicable chill crept into Mahito's heart.
"I am you."
"The me who kept talking about justice was just an arrogant idiot hiding behind the strength of others."
"That was never the real me."
"There is no reason, no excuse. Just follow what your heart wants."
Yuji stopped in front of Mahito.
His expression was calm and terrifyingly serious.
"Mahito."
"I want to kill you right now."
At the same time, Kōichi handed the remaining syringes to everyone.
Mahito suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.
"Wait…"
Bang!
The Domain entrance sealed itself once Choso and the others fully entered.
Outside, Nobara continued anxiously waiting.
Then suddenly.
Crack.
The black barrier shattered like broken glass.
Nobara immediately raised her hammer and nails, preparing for battle.
But the scene before her made her eyes widen.
Mahito's body was riddled with syringes.
His limbs were twisted and barely attached.
Yuji held the final syringe as he slowly approached him.
Mahito trembled violently.
"No… I… I am sorry… I was wrong… Please… do not…"
His eyes were filled with terror as he crawled backward.
His lower body had already shattered. He could only drag himself across the ground with his hands, leaving long trails of blood.
Yet Yuji's footsteps remained slow and steady.
Like death itself drawing closer.
Mahito collapsed completely, crying and twisting helplessly.
"I was wrong… Spare me… I will never do it again…"
Yuji raised the syringe.
"Die."
Suddenly, a figure dropped from the sky.
Boom!
Yuji was sent flying backward.
Choso caught him midair, barely absorbing the impact.
Mahito looked up.
His face instantly burst into hysterical tears.
"Hanami! Hanami! You came to save me!"
Like a child running to his mother after being bullied.
Facing the approaching Jujutsu Sorcerers, Hanami raised an arm.
Countless vines erupted from the concrete. They spread wildly, filling the battlefield and blocking everyone's vision.
Without wasting another second, Hanami grabbed Mahito and retreated.
____
Patreon = _Zeph