"What are you looking at?"
Sukuna said flatly.
"Who gave you the right to touch my soul?"
He casually raised two fingers.
"Cleave—!"
"...?"
Mahito stood frozen. Blood erupted like a fountain. A slash from top to bottom split open his shoulder, the massive wound extending all the way to his abdomen. His left arm fell away.
...Sukuna?
Mahito instinctively clutched at his drooping arm. He hadn't even had time to react.
Throughout Heaven and Earth, I alone am the honored one.
Sukuna sat atop the skulls, chin resting on the back of his hand. Even after casually crippling a powerful Special Grade curse, his expression remained unchanged.
I choose my way of life based solely on my mood.
No matter what creature dies before me, it doesn't matter.
Except for Yuji Itadori—the only brat in a thousand years who has piqued my interest...
CRACK—!
Because its caster was critically wounded, the Domain could no longer hold. Cracks spread across the surface of Self-Embodiment of Perfection, layer by layer, until it finally shattered.
Thud—
Mahito collapsed to his knees. Blood pooled around his feet, already forming a small lake.
Yuji had anticipated this outcome, so he wasn't surprised. A slit opened on his face, and Sukuna reappeared.
"Get this straight, brat. I'm not helping you."
"I'm just disgusted by this cursed spirit trying to show off its meager skills."
"Besides, after your attacks just now, he was already at his limit. Even with Domain Expansion, his cursed energy would've dried up in a minute or two at most. You just needed to use Simple Domain to hold out, and he would've lost regardless."
"So I didn't act for your sake."
Sukuna's attitude remained arrogant as ever.
"Alright, alright. I know. You don't need to remind me."
Yuji shook his head helplessly.
"Hey, brat. Lend me your body again," Sukuna said suddenly.
"...What do you want to do?"
"Just lend it to me. It's not like I'm going to do anything to you."
"...Fine."
Yuji closed his eyes, voluntarily dispersing his consciousness. When he opened them again, pitch-black cursed marks had reappeared. Sukuna was in control.
Sukuna put his hands in his pockets and walked slowly toward Mahito.
Mahito tried to struggle, but his legs wouldn't respond. Blood gushed from his severed shoulder, dyeing half his body dark red.
He looked up and met Ryomen Sukuna's gaze. Those crimson eyes stared down at him from above.
"Your head—"
Sukuna spoke.
Even though the voice was identical to Yuji's—just slightly hoarser, slightly deeper—coming from his mouth, it carried far more weight than the gentle Yuji Itadori's. Every word pressed down with crushing force.
"—is held too high."
Thud—
Mahito collapsed forward, forehead hitting the ground. He didn't even have the strength to struggle.
Massive blood loss blurred his consciousness. He was a cursed spirit—as long as he had cursed energy, he could heal. But Sukuna's slash had cut not only his physical body but also his soul. After the Domain Expansion, Mahito's cursed energy was completely exhausted.
Without immediate treatment, he would die here.
"Have you heard this saying?"
Sukuna's voice rang out again. Still cold. Still looking down from on high.
"The fuller the ear of rice, the lower it bows its head."
He raised his foot and stepped on Mahito's head.
He didn't use much force—but it was enough to press Mahito's face directly into the ground.
"It seems you lack that self-awareness."
Sukuna's tone dripped with contempt.
"You don't understand the order between the strong and the weak."
"People like me and Yuji Itadori are the strong. I can do whatever I want and live however I please. Yuji Itadori can save others according to his likes and dislikes."
"But you—are the weak."
As he spoke, he increased the pressure slightly.
Mahito's skull emitted a muffled groan. His face sank deeper into the ground.
"Being looked down upon by someone like you is really annoying."
"..."
Mahito lay motionless, fingers weakly clawing at the cracks in the pavement. His nails broke. Blood flowed.
He wanted to speak. Wanted to retort—"I am a Special Grade curse," "I will kill you," "Remember this, I will have my revenge."
But he couldn't utter a single word.
Before this man, he was nothing.
Sukuna, isn't it about time you gave the body back?
Yuji sweatdropped slightly.
After all that... Sukuna borrowed his body just to mock Mahito?
Is Sukuna a child?
"Hmph. Brat, you handle the rest."
After speaking, Sukuna voluntarily returned control. The marks on the pink-haired boy's face faded.
"Now—it's time to end this, Mahito."
Yuji raised his fist. Cyan cursed energy gathered in his hand.
He looked down expressionlessly at the dying cursed spirit beneath his feet, leaned forward, and swung—
"..."
Whoosh—!
Something tore through the air.
Yuji's pupils contracted. Something was coming.
Several thick tree roots shot out from the darkness, whipping toward him like living snakes.
BANG!
He raised his arms to block, but the force was astonishing—like being struck by a sledgehammer.
His feet skidded across the ground with a harsh screech. He was pushed back several steps.
In the gap created by that knockback, a white figure appeared in front of Mahito.
"Mahito! I'm here to save you!"
A completely pale cursed spirit covered in pitch-black patterns. Two branches where its eyes should be.
Hanami.
One of the four Disaster Curses. A Special Grade cursed spirit born from humanity's fear of forests.
It bent down, scooped Mahito off the ground, tucked him under one arm, turned—and ran.
Hanami had no intention of fighting someone as dangerous as Sukuna's vessel.
The curse's speed was staggering as it frantically wove through the street. Tree roots and vines spread out behind it like a tidal wave, forming an impenetrable wall to block Yuji's pursuit.
"Trying to run?"
Yuji narrowed his eyes. He'd already guessed others might be lying in ambush. Kenjaku wouldn't let Mahito come here alone to die. Hanami's appearance was only a matter of time.
But he wouldn't let them escape so easily.
Yuji raised his arms, fingertips pointed in Hanami's direction. Scarlet blood gushed from his palms, condensing and compressing into a slender arrow.
Piercing Blood!
The blood arrow tore through the air, aimed straight at Hanami's back. But before it could reach—
BOOM—!
A massive figure descended from the sky, crashing directly into the arrow's path.
When the dust settled, a completely crimson, two-horned, hideous curse appeared—as burly as a small mountain. It held a giant wine jug in one hand, steam rising from the mouth, exuding a powerful scent of alcohol.
"...The registered Special Grade curse, Shuten Doji?"
"..."
Not far from where Yuji and Mahito had fought, atop a nearby building.
Kenjaku stood with arms crossed, a smile on his face as he gazed down at the battlefield.
"Oh my, oh my."
He murmured to himself.
"I told him earlier he couldn't beat you. Unfortunately, he didn't believe me."
"Sorry, my child. Mahito is an important piece for me. I won't let you kill him so easily."
Although Sukuna's vessel's growth rate had far exceeded his expectations—even threatening to disrupt his plans.
"But this is fine too. After this battle, Mahito has grown considerably as well. It's not without gains."
"I'm looking forward to you, Yuji Itadori."
"..."
Yuji lowered his arms. His gaze crossed over Shuten Doji's shoulder, falling on the direction Hanami had fled.
The dying Mahito was tucked under Hanami's arm. Eyes rolled back. Severed shoulder dragging uselessly against the ground.
Yuji took a deep breath. He knew Mahito was still conscious.
"Mahito—!"
He shouted.
"Remember this well! I have plenty of cursed energy to spare. Taking care of this Special Grade and then chasing you down would be child's play!"
"The victor has been decided. You're nothing but a pathetic worm curled up in your companion's arms, only able to watch me and tremble!"
"Listen carefully—!"
"Don't think you're safe just because you escaped today! I will hunt you to the ends of the earth!"
"No matter how your companions protect you! No matter how many curses act as your shield! I will tear them apart one by one and stand before you!"
"From now on, I will become the shadow looming over your head! I will make you live every day in fear of me—even if you manage to drag out your miserable existence!"
"The next time we meet, I won't let you die so easily!"
"When that time comes, I won't give you any chance to escape."
"I will use my own hands to crush your soul bit by bit."
"I'll show you what true despair looks like."
Yuji lowered his arms. His voice returned to calm.
"So get lost."
"Savor this taste of defeat. Enjoy your final moments like a reptile crawling through a stinking gutter."
"After all—you don't have much time left."
Sukuna sat atop the cattle and sheep skulls, expression somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected this naive, childish brat to say such harsh words.
But soon, a smile of genuine interest spread across his face.
Perhaps he hadn't fully understood the current Yuji Itadori?
That curse must be terrified out of its mind right now.
Hehehe... Making him spend the rest of his life in fear? Interesting. If it were Sukuna, he might have said the same thing.
"Good, brat. Well said."
"That's the spirit a strong person should have."
Sukuna's level of acknowledgment for Yuji Itadori quietly rose a bit higher.
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~ Evey 150 PS = Bonus Chapter
~ ush the Story forward with your [Power Stones]