I still want to

Clap, clap!

Satoru Gojo straightened up and said casually:

"I'm fine. I didn't have time to use my technique, but he missed my vitals.

Then I reinforced the other areas with cursed energy, so when he pulled the blade out, it was like pulling a safety pin through cotton. I'm really fine!"

After saying this, Satoru Gojo glanced at Toji Fushiguro, who was about to break free of Suguru Geto's shikigami, and continued:

"Don't worry about me. Protect Tengen first. Leave this guy to me and go on ahead to Master Tengen!"

Suguru Geto looked between Satoru Gojo and Riko Amanai and the others, torn. Finally, he gritted his teeth and made his decision.

"Be careful. Let's go!"

Although Misato Kuroi and Riko Amanai were worried about Satoru Gojo, they didn't linger and immediately followed Suguru Geto.

They knew perfectly well that staying would serve no purpose. They would only become a burden.

The same went for Yuanfang. Although he desperately wanted to absorb their cursed energy, his current strength and domain range left him no chance at all.

So he wisely followed Suguru Geto as well.

After breaking free of Suguru Geto's shikigami, Toji Fushiguro saw his targets fleeing but didn't rush to pursue them.

He knew full well that he couldn't complete his mission without dealing with Satoru Gojo first.

After running some distance behind Suguru Geto,

they arrived in front of an enormous building. Following his directions, they took an elevator that slowly descended.

"Gojo can handle that man, right?"

As they descended, Riko Amanai looked at Suguru Geto with worry written all over her face.

"Don't worry. He'll be fine!"

Although Suguru Geto sounded certain, the tension in his brow betrayed his own concern.

After all, he had never seen anyone hurt Satoru Gojo before.

Riko Amanai didn't notice the worry in Suguru Geto's eyes, so his words put her much more at ease.

She wasn't particularly concerned about her own safety. She was afraid that Satoru Gojo wouldn't be able to stop that man, dragging Misato Kuroi and Yuanfang into danger.

Ding!

As they talked, the elevator reached the lowest floor.

Ahead lay a long, tall, spacious corridor. From a distance, it looked like a mysterious passage into an unknown world, with an enormous space beyond.

Suguru Geto led the way out, and Riko Amanai followed close behind, her gaze filled with worry.

After stepping out of the elevator, Misato Kuroi stopped, intending to escort Riko Amanai no farther.

Her eyes were full of sorrow, and she was just about to say goodbye.

Yuanfang's small hand clamped onto hers like an iron vise. Without a word, he resolutely walked forward.

Misato Kuroi was puzzled, but she didn't resist and silently followed him.

She thought Yuanfang probably wanted to spend a little more time with Riko Amanai.

Don't I feel the same? Every extra moment together counts.

Unfortunately, she had guessed wrong. Yuanfang's reasoning was actually simple.

Toji Fushiguro is bound to come down this way soon. If he sees us, he might decide to kill us, and I won't be able to stop him.

Rather than risk that, we'd be better off going inside with Suguru Geto and the others. Then Geto can draw Toji Fushiguro's attention.

Meanwhile, I'll hide with Misato Kuroi and get through this crisis.

Before long, they emerged from the corridor and saw the vast, peculiar place beyond.

It was like a labyrinth built underground, with buildings arranged in rings around an enormous tree.

"So this is..."

At the thought of living here from now on, Riko Amanai felt a jumble of emotions.

"That's right. This is the foundation of the country's major barriers, beneath Master Tengen..."

Suguru Geto began introducing the place in an even tone.

Meanwhile, Yuanfang carefully studied their surroundings, plotting how to find a chance to get rid of that old bastard.

Having read the original story, he knew all too well that Tengen was no saint either.

Just then, Suguru Geto abruptly changed tack, as swiftly as a Sichuan opera performer changing masks.

"Or you could turn around and go home with Miss Kuroi and Yuanfang!"

Riko Amanai and Misato Kuroi, who had already been preparing to accept her fate and were feeling miserable, stared at Suguru Geto as though struck by lightning.

Yuanfang, who knew the plot, wasn't surprised and continued examining the place.

"When our homeroom teacher assigned us this mission, he called 'assimilation' an 'erasure.' He wanted us to feel a strong sense of guilt about it.

Our teacher seems simple-minded, but he's always taking these roundabout approaches."

As he spoke, Suguru Geto couldn't help smiling, amused by his homeroom teacher's methods.

"Before we met you, Satoru and I agreed that if you refused to assimilate, we wouldn't make you.

We're the strongest. Whatever you choose, Riko, we'll make sure you have a future."

Listening from the side, Yuanfang couldn't help curling his lip. With talk like that, how could this not end in death?

Satoru Gojo and Toji Fushiguro's fight should have ended by now. Yuanfang couldn't help looking toward the pitch-black corridor.

Misato Kuroi's thoughts were a tangled mess. She didn't know whether to feel happy or worried.

If Riko Amanai refused assimilation, something terrible might happen.

But she truly couldn't bear to lose this girl, who was like a little sister to her, and have her disappear forever.

Riko Amanai, however, was deeply moved that Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo would go so far for her.

Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, she began telling them about her life.

"Ever since I was born, people kept telling me, 'You're special. You're different from everyone else.'

I grew used to being 'special' long ago. All this time, as I grew up, I did my best to avoid danger, just so I could wait for this day..."

As Riko Amanai spoke, she grew increasingly emotional, tears glistening in her eyes. She looked at Misato Kuroi, whose eyes were also brimming with tears, and finally made her decision when her gaze settled on Yuanfang.

"I want to stay with everyone. I want to go to all sorts of places with everyone and see all sorts of things! I still want to..."

Looking at the tearful Riko Amanai, Suguru Geto smiled gently and held out his hand.

"Let's go home, Riko!"

"Yes!"

Riko Amanai wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her face glowing with a happy smile as she reached for Suguru Geto's hand.

It seemed they had arrived at a happy ending.

But only Yuanfang knew that a nightmare was about to begin.

He had already spotted the figure holding a gun in the shadows. He was normally calm and composed, and he had long since prepared himself.

Yet, for some reason, his body seemed ready to defy his will and strike at that figure.