The aftereffects of the nuclear explosion gradually dissipated, and the blinding light faded, leaving behind a deathly silent ruin.
At the bottom of the massive crater in the center of the explosion, a colossal mummified corpse stood silently—it was the body of Earth Fiend. His body had long since become charred and withered under the intense heat and shock of the nuclear blast, yet he still maintained the posture of tightly shielding Jogo in his arms, like a mountain that would never collapse.
He was already dead, having used his own life to block that destructive power for Jogo.
Jogo, who was shielded in his arms, slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness breaking free from the scorching dizziness of the nuclear explosion.
Before him, there was no scorched earth or ruins, nor was there any lingering smoke. There was only an endless expanse of pure white. This was Earth Fiend's final consciousness space, much like the flashback Matador had experienced back then, carrying their final farewell.
He saw Earth Fiend's figure standing just a few dozen meters away, still that massive and heavy form, without a single scar on his body, his expression as calm as ever.
Jogo subconsciously wanted to rush over, but his feet seemed to be nailed to the spot; no matter how hard he tried, he could not get even a step closer.
He knew clearly in his heart that the Earth Fiend before him was no longer a living existence.
"I'm sorry..."
Scalding tears uncontrollably welled up from Jogo's eyes and slid down his cheeks, mixing with the undried blood at the corners of his mouth, making him look exceptionally wretched:
"It was me, I was too impulsive. It was I who insisted on coming to find Rin for revenge, it was I who caused your death!"
His voice was choked with sobs, filled with endless guilt and remorse.
If he hadn't been blinded by arrogance and anger, hadn't ignored Kenjaku's dissuasion, and hadn't insisted on challenging Rin alone, Earth Fiend would not have died to save him.
This heavy burden of guilt pressed down on his heart like a giant boulder, making him almost unable to breathe.
Facing Jogo's self-reproach, Earth Fiend only gently shook his head, his tone calm without a ripple:
"It doesn't matter, it's all the same.
Jogo, if it weren't for you saving me from Gojo Satoru back then, I would have already died long ago.
This life of mine was always yours to begin with."
These simple words left Jogo even more speechless.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, his heart filled with hatred—hatred for his own weakness, unable to even protect his companion, and hatred for his own impulsiveness, having personally pushed his most trusted partner toward death.
"There is no need to be sad about my departure."
Earth Fiend looked at his painful appearance and slowly spoke to comfort him:
"We are not humans, death is not the end. As long as your ideal can succeed, as long as that world dominated by Cursed Spirits can arrive, perhaps one day in the future, I will be reborn."
As his voice fell, Earth Fiend slowly raised his hand and pressed his palm against his own chest.
Accompanied by a slight fluctuation of Cursed Energy, he dug out a crystal emitting an earthy-yellow glow from within his chest; that was his cursed spirit core, containing his lifelong power and origin.
"Both of us are Cursed Spirits born from humanity's curse upon the earth."
Earth Fiend held his core in his hands, looking at Jogo with a solemn gaze:
"Perhaps my existence even diverted a portion of the earth's curse power, preventing your power from reaching its peak.
Therefore, from now on, you shall inherit my power. Take it, and continue to fulfill your dream."
The earthy-yellow cursed spirit core slowly floated toward Jogo, carrying Earth Fiend's warm and heavy Cursed Energy aura.
Jogo reached out with trembling hands and took the core; the cold crystal felt slightly hot in his hands, as if it carried Earth Fiend's unfinished will.
Earth Fiend watched him take the core, a faint smile appearing on his face.
He said nothing more, only slowly turning around and walking toward the depths of the pure white space. His figure gradually became transparent, as if merging into this white background.
"Remember, do not face that boy named Rin alone again."
This final piece of advice echoed in the pure white space before completely dissipating.
Earth Fiend's figure also vanished, leaving only Jogo alone, holding the core that carried his companion's will and power, standing in this vast, pure white void.
Consciousness receded like a tide, and Jogo suddenly came back to his senses, returning to the ruins after the nuclear explosion.
He was still being shielded in the arms of Earth Fiend's corpse, his hand tightly clutching the earthy-yellow cursed spirit core.
The surrounding air was still scorching, permeated with the scent of death, yet in his heart, a new flame had ignited.
He cautiously broke free from Earth Fiend's arms, looked at that charred corpse, and deeply bowed his head.
"Earth Fiend, I will avenge you. Our ideal, I will definitely realize it."
Jogo's voice was low and firm. He pressed Earth Fiend's cursed spirit core tightly against his chest, feeling the heavy power contained within it.
The wind by the roadside carried the lingering smoke of the nuclear explosion, blowing through the stray hairs on Rin's forehead.
He stood in place, his Crimson Sharingan rotating slightly, precisely capturing Jogo's aura in the ruins that had not yet dissipated. Unlike the pure scorching heat of flames from before, there was now an additional heavy and dense earth-type Cursed Energy, evidently having inherited Earth Fiend's core power.
Rin's fingertips moved slightly, Cursed Energy quietly gathering around him, yet he never took a step to pursue.
He looked in Jogo's direction, his eyes deep, wondering what he was calculating.
Just then, the ground suddenly trembled violently! Countless thick vines, like awakened giant pythons, rose from the soil on both sides of the road, and with sharp whistling sounds, struck rapidly toward Rin.
The surface of the vines was covered with hard barbs, glowing with dark green Cursed Energy, instantly wrapping around Rin's figure and forming an airtight vine ball.
"Bang!"
The next second, a violent explosion sounded.
The vine ball shattered and exploded instantly under the impact of the black-red Cursed Energy, with dark green fragments flying everywhere.
Rin's figure slowly walked out of the smoke and dust, his hem brushing past the remaining vine debris; he remained spotless, not having been hindered in the slightest.
But when he looked up, Jogo's figure had already disappeared into the distant mountain forest.
A residual shadow of Cursed Energy exuding the scent of vegetation flashed by; evidently, another Special Grade Cursed Spirit had arrived in time and rescued Jogo. It was Hanami's aura, which Rin had already sensed.
"Why let them leave?"
Sukuna's voice rang in his mind, carrying a hint of impatience and questioning:
"You clearly sensed that Cursed Spirit controlling trees a long time ago. With your strength, you could have completely wiped them out."
Rin did not respond immediately, just quietly watching the chaotic battlefield before him.
The massive crater left by the nuclear explosion was still emitting wisps of smoke, Earth Fiend's charred corpse stood silently at the bottom of the pit, and the distant mountain forest was a mess under the influence of the shockwave.
He was silent for a moment, his tone calm without a ripple:
"I have a bigger plan; keeping Jogo alive is still useful."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the depths of the mountain forest, the corners of his mouth curling into an imperceptible arc:
"Anyway, they have that guy Kenjaku behind them; sooner or later, they will come knocking again. Killing Jogo now would only alert the enemy."
"It's all just excuses."
Sukuna let out a faint cold laugh, his tone full of disapproval:
"I am becoming more and more curious about what you are calculating in your heart, kid. Don't think you can keep hiding it from me."
Facing Sukuna's questioning, Rin no longer responded.
He strode forward, walking toward the massive crater at the center of the nuclear explosion, his figure appearing exceptionally lonely in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Sukuna's dissatisfaction swirled in his mind for a moment, ultimately turning into a cold snort, gradually falling silent.
Arriving before Earth Fiend's corpse, Rin stopped.
He raised his hand, his Crimson Sharingan flashing with a dazzling red light, and the Cursed Energy around his body formed an invisible vortex, beginning to draw out the residual Cursed Energy and origin from Earth Fiend's corpse.