I'll Win

"Mm..." Sukuna (Fushiguro Megumi) tilted his head in satisfaction, letting out a contented hum.

He spread his arms as if savoring the freedom his new vessel brought him. Three pairs of eyes fixed on Haguruma with undisguised amusement.

"Your domain," Sukuna said, his voice especially chilling in Fushiguro's tone. "It took away my Cursed Energy?" His lips curled into a dangerous grin. "Why does this feel... so boring?"

Haguruma's face had turned ashen. His sanity was on the verge of being shattered by the existence before him, an affront to the rules themselves.

He swung his right hand sharply downward, and the gavel symbolizing judgment formed in his palm once more!

"Judgment!" Haguruma roared with grim resolve. The gavel, imbued with the power of his domain, slammed toward the ground!

A hand covered in black Cursed Marks clamped around Haguruma's wrist like an iron vise!

The gavel was mere inches from the ground, yet it could go no farther!

Haguruma's pupils shook! He hadn't even seen when Sukuna had crossed the distance between them!

Sukuna leaned close to Haguruma's stunned, slightly twisted face. Malice glinted in his eyes as he taunted him with sudden realization:

"Ah, right~ I forgot." He licked his lips, his smile cruel and delighted. "Isn't your judgment only supposed to punish someone for the same crime?"

He tightened his grip slightly. Haguruma's wrist creaked as his bones were squeezed.

"Hahaha!" Sukuna burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the ruins of the shattered courtroom. "Because that brat was just a vessel! The one who went on a killing spree in Shibuya and crushed more than twenty thousand ants..."

He paused, his eyes both locking onto Haguruma's widening pupils, and declared each word clearly:

"That was me! Your Honor!"

Haguruma's pupils contracted violently from the pain and shock! He poured Cursed Energy into his legs and kicked at Sukuna (Fushiguro Megumi)'s abdomen like a battle-axe, trying to break free of his deadly grip!

Thud! Thud!

Heavy blows landed! Sukuna didn't even move his feet. His Cursed Mark-covered left hand casually swept down and blocked Haguruma's kicks with precise, effortless movements, as if brushing away dust. Under Sukuna's control, Fushiguro Megumi's body displayed terrifying physical prowess and reflexes far beyond the norm!

"Ugh!" Haguruma grunted. His attack had been easily deflected, and the crushing pain in his wrist nearly made him drop the gavel.

"How do I get rid of your annoying domain?" Sukuna tilted his head with an amused smile. He casually blocked Haguruma's continued barrage of close-range kicks as he drawled out the question.

His movements were always a fraction faster than Haguruma's, as if he were putting on a lesson.

Haguruma gritted his teeth. Sweat ran down from his temple, but he said nothing. He only attacked more furiously! Every kick came with an explosive burst of Cursed Energy!

But Sukuna used just one hand, parrying and blocking with ease.

Only when Haguruma desperately tried to form the gavel again and pass judgment did Sukuna tighten his right hand around his wrist, making the pain interrupt his Cursed Technique.

Just as Sukuna toyed with Haguruma, holding him down with a cruel smile—

"Give him back!!!"

A shrill, resolute cry tore through the oppression lingering in the domain!

Kurusu Hana hovered in midair, her whole body erupting in dazzling golden light! The halo above her head shone like a miniature sun, its radiance piercing through all darkness! The powerful holy energy formed a tangible shock wave that spread outward!

The angelic girl cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone. Her golden eyes blazed with unprecedented fury and grief as she fixed them on Fushiguro Megumi's body, now occupied by Sukuna, and screamed with all her strength:

"Give Megumi—back to me!!!"

"Ladder of the Great!"

Rumble—!!!

The space in front of Kurusu Hana's cupped hands warped violently!

A beam of light over ten meters in diameter, made entirely of holy golden light that disintegrated everything it touched, tore through Haguruma's already crumbling domain like a divine spear!

The beam shot toward Sukuna at a speed beyond thought!

Too fast! Too close! Sukuna's mocking expression froze!

He whipped around and saw only a field of golden light, brimming with destruction, filling his entire vision! He didn't even have time to fully release Haguruma's wrist—

"Waaahhh—!!!"

Fushiguro Megumi's body was completely swallowed by the beam! Sukuna let out a nonhuman scream of pain and fury! The sound was warped and piercing, filled with an unbelievable savagery!

The holy flames scorched the King of Curses' soul and the body he had possessed!

The enormous golden beam pierced the entire shattered courtroom domain and continued up into the sky, briefly ripping through the gloom shrouding the city!

Everyone held their breath, staring fixedly at the center of the beam.

A wavering figure appeared inside the light.

"Hana..." A weak but familiar voice rang out.

Kurusu Hana was struck as if by lightning! The light around her instantly dimmed, and the beam dispersed. "Megumi... Megumi?"

As the smoke cleared, Fushiguro Megumi stood there, covered in wounds. His skin was charred and split, smoke rising from his body. Only his eyes remained—no longer crimson, they looked at her, dazed and exhausted.

"I... remember everything..." He struggled to raise a badly burned hand toward Kurusu Hana.

An overwhelming wave of joy and relief swept over Kurusu Hana!

Tears poured from her eyes! "Megumi!!!" She beat her wings without hesitation, turning into a streak of light as she rushed toward him!

"Don't go!!!" Nanami Kento and Haguruma shouted at the same time!

Haguruma clutched his right arm, burned where the edge of the beam had grazed it. Nanami was even more frantic!

Kurusu Hana crashed into "Fushiguro Megumi's" embrace, wrapped both arms around his charred neck, and buried her face against him, sobbing. "Thank goodness... Thank goodness..."

The instant she let her guard down completely—

Beneath the burn marks still visible on "Fushiguro Megumi's" face, the bizarre black Cursed Marks spread and deepened like living creatures!

His lips split into an utterly evil grin that stretched to his ears. Four crimson eyes opened viciously beneath his charred skin!

"Heh..." Sukuna's twisted, savage laugh forced its way out of "Fushiguro Megumi's" throat!

His remaining right arm coiled around Kurusu Hana's slender waist like a python, pinning her and leaving her unable to struggle!

At the same time, his monstrous head snapped back. His cavernous mouth, lined with sharp fangs, opened at a horrifying angle. With a gust of foul breath, he bit down hard on Kurusu Hana's defenseless, pale neck!

"Kurusu Hana!!!" Nanami's eyes nearly burst from their sockets!

Vmmm—shhk!

A frigid blade of light tore through space without warning!

It sliced precisely into the elbow joint of the arm "Fushiguro Megumi" had wrapped around Kurusu Hana!

The Cursed Mark-covered left forearm was severed at the elbow! Black blood sprayed!

"Gaaah—!!!" Sukuna roared in furious pain! The agony made him instinctively release Kurusu Hana, and his body shot backward like a shadow!

With nothing to hold her up, Kurusu Hana crumpled toward the ground. Nanami Kento rushed forward and caught her just in time.

Her eyes were wide and unfocused. Overwhelmed by terror and the pain of betrayal, she had completely lost herself. Only her tears fell silently.

Sukuna stopped dozens of meters away. The muscles around the wound on his severed left hand wriggled, and the bleeding stopped instantly. He snapped his head up, crimson eyes ablaze with fury, and glared at a figure hovering in the air, who had appeared out of nowhere.

The figure floated in the air, holding a long sword. Beneath his white hair, his eyes gleamed with mockery, and a disdainful smile touched his face.

"Damn bastard..." Sukuna growled through clenched teeth, every word steeped in the King of Curses' fury. "Nero!"

"You said you wouldn't stop my recovery! What are you doing now?!"

Chapter 18: I'll Win

"Damn bastard..." Sukuna growled through clenched teeth, every word steeped in the King of Curses' fury. "Nero!"

"You said you wouldn't stop my recovery! What are you doing now?!"

Sukuna's roar was laced with tangible malice, and the ruins trembled.

In midair, the white-haired man—Chen Tian—let out a soft snort. His scornful laugh rang clearly in everyone's ears.

He descended slowly, with an ease and arrogance that were hard to describe. The tips of his shoes barely touched the ground, stirring up a little dust.

He lifted his chin. His eyes held no emotion, only the contemptuous disdain one might show for an inferior plaything.

"I wasn't planning to interfere with you," Chen Tian said calmly.

"But Sukuna," he continued, tilting his head slightly as a few strands of white hair fell loose, "you're too slow."

"It's been fifteen whole days since Shibuya." Chen Tian raised one finger, his tone brimming with undisguised disappointment and irritation. "And you're still this..."

His gaze swept over Fushiguro Megumi's charred, battered body, occupied by Sukuna, and finally settled on Sukuna's twisted face. He delivered his cold verdict:

"...pathetic."

"Not to mention," Chen Tian added, the faintest trace of mockery tugging at his lips, "you had to resort to such a low trick, biting at a broken girl's throat, just to find a little fun?"

He stopped looking at Sukuna, whose face had turned ashen and whose Cursed Energy roiled unstably with fury, and walked straight toward Kurusu Hana, who was sitting on the ground.

His icy indifference toward Sukuna was a world apart from the way he bent down naturally in front of Kurusu Hana and held out his hand.

The lines of his face seemed to soften in an instant, the frost replaced by a warm, gentle smile as radiant as a star.

"It's all right now, Miss Kurusu Hana." His voice was low and gentle, soothing. "Can you stand?"

Kurusu Hana's unfocused pupils shifted slightly, meeting Chen Tian's eyes, which seemed exceptionally reassuring now.

"Ne... Nero?" Kurusu Hana sat on the ground, looking at the man reaching out to her. She knew this man very well—extremely well.

Because she never missed any of his concerts.

Chen Tian smiled warmly, his hand still extended toward Kurusu Hana. "That's right. It's me, my fan."

Kurusu Hana stared at Chen Tian in disbelief. "You... You... You knew?"

Kurusu Hana had never bought a ticket to one of Chen Tian's concerts.

Chen Tian nodded. "Of course. At every concert, you hide on the scaffolding above the stage. I also know you've attended every one of my fan signings."

Kurusu Hana's eyes reddened slightly. "I... I love your music so much. I couldn't afford tickets, so that was the only way I could watch you perform..."

Chen Tian gently took Kurusu Hana's hand and helped her up. "It's all right. I've felt how much you care."

Chen Tian's palm carved a black fissure through the air, tearing space open as easily as cloth. Uraume tumbled out of the crack, in a sorry state, his white robe stained with blood.

"Lord Sukuna!" Uraume cried out, but in the next instant Chen Tian kicked him away. His body flew like a rag and slammed into Sukuna.

Sukuna narrowed his four crimson eyes, his lips twisting into a savage grin. "Interesting..." He reached out and caught Uraume, digging his nails deep into his shoulder. "You understand me pretty well, Nero."

Chen Tian put his hands in his pockets and nodded toward Uraume with his chin. "Eat. Let's see if you can entertain me at full strength."

Trembling, Uraume took a black wooden box from his robes. The lid sprang open on its own. Three withered fingers and a decayed head lay quietly inside.

Sukuna's pupils contracted sharply. That was... his own head!

"Hahaha!" Sukuna suddenly burst out laughing and snatched up the box. "In that case, I'll grant your wish!"

He opened his cavernous mouth and shoved the fingers and head inside!

A hair-raising crunching sound followed.

Fushiguro Megumi's body began to twist violently, and more bizarre Cursed Marks appeared on his skin. Sukuna's Cursed Energy erupted like a tsunami, shaking all of space!

Sukuna's Cursed Energy swept through the entire space like an erupting volcano.

"So this is... Sukuna at full strength...?" Yuji Itadori knelt on one knee, cold sweat soaking his back.

Just standing in the eye of the storm made every cell in his body sound an alarm.

Chen Tian suddenly tilted his head. "Seems like something's missing?" He turned to Yuji. "Where's the Prison Realm?"

"It's... still in Shibuya!" Yuji answered without thinking.

Chen Tian casually swiped a finger through the air. Space peeled open like a curtain, and a black cube etched with strange patterns thudded onto the ground.

Enma Sword slid an inch from its sheath. A flash of cold light swept across the Prison Realm—

Boom! Smoke burst outward!

"Ah~ I'm out, I'm out~" A languid voice pierced the smoke as a white-haired man stretched and strolled out.

Beneath his tousled white hair, his lips curved into a familiar smile. "That was a pretty long nap."

"Gojo-sensei?!" Yuji cried out as Sukuna burst into laughter at the same time.

All four of Sukuna's eyes narrowed, his Cursed Energy boiling even more violently. "Satoru Gojo!"

He ripped off his shirt, revealing a body covered in Cursed Marks. "Perfect timing! I'll tear you and that damn pretty boy to shreds!!"