The explosion faded.
Dust rolled through the shattered station.
Pieces of concrete hit the floor one after another.
Silence.
The variants stood still.
Wheels turning slowly.
Light fading.
At the center—
Mahito lay there.
Broken.
Barely conscious.
Unable to use his cursed technique.
His breathing shook.
For the first time in a long time—
he looked afraid.
Actually afraid.
Takeru walked forward.
Slowly.
No smile.
No anger.
Just a stare.
Mahito looked up.
"…You…"
Takeru stopped in front of him.
Looked down.
Mahito tried to move.
Nothing.
"…Kill me then."
Silence.
Takeru raised a hand.
Warm golden energy flowed around it.
That overwhelming RCT appeared again.
Mahito's eyes widened.
"…Wait."
The light touched him.
Bones repaired.
Damage closed.
His body stabilized.
Mahito stared.
Confused.
"…Why?"
Takeru looked at him quietly.
"Because ending this right now would be easy."
He crouched down.
"You hurt people because you think lives are toys."
Outside, Yuji watched silently.
Megumi stayed still.
Even Sukuna narrowed his eyes slightly.
Takeru stood again.
"But I'm not keeping you alive to make you suffer."
A pause.
"I'm keeping you alive so you answer for everything."
The variants surrounded Mahito.
Wheels turning.
Watching.
Mahito looked around.
No exits.
No tricks.
No cursed technique.
For the first time—
his smile was completely gone.
Fred slowly raised a sign from behind a broken pillar:
"Status: Consequences have arrived."