The explosion in the air gradually faded.
Smoke and fragments of cursed energy scattered through the ruined hall.
Yet the Special Grade cursed spirit was still alive.
Even after taking its own attack head-on, the creature remained suspended in midair.
Its body was heavily damaged—half of its torso burned black and torn apart—but the vitality typical of Special Grade curses allowed it to survive.
Especially with the influence of Ryomen Sukuna's finger, which continued to emit a faint malevolent aura.
However—
The contempt that once filled the curse's eyes had disappeared.
Now only fear remained.
It had realized something.
The human standing before it…
Was far more terrifying than itself.
It had no intention of continuing the fight.
The curse immediately turned and rushed toward the distorted edge of the domain-like space, attempting to tear open the boundary and escape.
"Trying to run?"
Yagami Sora's voice echoed calmly behind it.
It sounded almost like a judge announcing a sentence.
"Did you ask for my permission first?"
Before the curse could react—
Sora appeared directly behind it.
Using vector manipulation to control the reaction forces of the surrounding air, he moved through the air as if flying, accelerating faster than most sorcerers could perceive.
His hand reached forward.
Then gently rested on the curse's charred back.
There was almost no visible force.
The gesture looked almost friendly.
Like greeting an old acquaintance.
Yet—
The cursed spirit's body suddenly froze.
"Bioelectric manipulation," Sora murmured quietly.
The actions of living beings—whether human or curse—are ultimately governed by electrical signals within their nervous systems.
Those signals travel as extremely weak electric currents.
And electricity…
Is simply another vector.
By making contact, Sora could interfere directly with the electrical signals controlling the curse's body.
In an instant—
The nerve signals throughout the cursed spirit's body were rewritten.
The command to escape became convulse in place.
The command to counterattack became strangle itself.
The massive creature twisted violently in midair like a broken puppet.
Its limbs jerked uncontrollably.
Its body spasmed without coordination.
No meaningful action could be executed.
"What?"
"Can't move?"
Sora looked at the struggling creature with cold indifference.
"If you can't move…"
"…then die."
This time—
His palm pressed down with real force.
No more precise control.
Only destruction.
"Vector — Crushing Palm."
He compressed the kinetic vectors of his own strike together with the surrounding vibrational vectors in the air, concentrating them into a single devastating point.
At the same time—
He reversed the blood flow vectors inside the cursed spirit's body.
POOF—!
The curse's body suddenly expanded like an overinflated balloon.
Then—
BOOM!
A dull explosion echoed through the hall.
Half of the cursed spirit's body detonated instantly.
Purple flesh and cursed blood scattered across the ruined chamber.
It couldn't even scream.
Sora had already suppressed the vibration vectors of its vocal cords.
The remaining half of its body collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
The Sukuna finger rolled across the floor and stopped near Sora's feet.
The battle ended instantly.
From beginning to end—
The Special Grade cursed spirit never even touched him.
It had been completely controlled…
Then crushed.
The distorted domain-like space surrounding the detention center began collapsing.
The twisted corridors gradually returned to their original shapes.
The missing exit reappeared.
Sunlight streamed through the shattered roof.
Yagami Sora slowly descended to the ground.
He bent down and picked up the Sukuna finger.
At that moment—
The system notification sounded inside his mind.
[Ding! Special Grade Cursed Spirit (Cursed Womb Evolution) defeated!]
[Large amount of experience obtained!]
[Vector Manipulation upgraded!]
[Level 5 → Level 5 (Intermediate)]
[New abilities unlocked: Plasma Generation (Beginner), Precise Bioelectric Manipulation.]
Sora's lips curved slightly.
Finally.
A level-up.
He could feel the change immediately.
His brain's computational power had increased dramatically.
Everything felt clearer.
Sharper.
If he encountered Sukuna again now—even if Sukuna regained temporary control of Yuji's body—
He wouldn't even need to reflect attacks.
A single plasma discharge would be enough to make the King of Curses reconsider his arrogance.
"It's over."
Sora turned toward the three figures sitting against the wall.
Yuji.
Megumi.
Nobara.
They remained frozen.
Completely stunned.
"Hey."
Sora snapped his fingers.
"Wake up."
"Mission complete."
"Let's go home."
The three finally reacted.
"…That was insane," Nobara whispered.
"Is that really something a human can do?"
Megumi stared at Sora silently.
His expression was complicated.
He had always known Sora was stronger than him.
But now—
The difference no longer felt like a gap.
It felt like a completely different dimension.
Yuji, on the other hand, looked excited.
"That was amazing!"
"What was that move called again?"
"Crushing Palm?"
"Teach me that someday!"
Just as the atmosphere began relaxing—
Something unexpected happened.
Yuji's body suddenly trembled violently.
He grabbed his face with both hands.
"Ugh…!"
"Itadori?" Megumi shouted.
"What's wrong?!"
"I—I can't hold it down anymore…"
Yuji's voice trembled.
"He's…"
"…coming out…"
The Sukuna finger he had swallowed earlier began reacting to the immense cursed energy released during the battle.
Combined with the emotional shock of witnessing Sora's overwhelming power—
The seal weakened.
And deep within Yuji's body—
A presence awakened.
"Hehehe…"
Yuji slowly lowered his hand.
Black curse markings spread across his face.
His expression twisted into a cruel grin.
Scarlet eyes glowed with ancient malice.
Ryomen Sukuna had returned.
His gaze locked directly onto Yagami Sora.
A look of interest appeared in his eyes.
"Interesting…"
Sukuna's deep voice echoed through the ruined hall.
"Brat…"
"Your techniques are becoming more and more fascinating."