The Transfigured Humans hindered Madara and Nanami, while Mahito seized the opening.
His target was clear-
Junpei.
"Come on, Junpei~" Mahito slipped through the gaps between the Transfigured Humans like a phantom, appearing before Junpei in an instant with a crazed smile on his face.
"Let me touch you! Just once~ I'll make you more interesting, make it so you won't hurt anymore, make you-"
His hand reached toward Junpei's face.
His fingers spread, their tips slightly curled. Junpei wanted to retreat, but his body froze in fear.
He wanted to summon Moon Dregs, but his repeated use of his Cursed Technique had already drained his Cursed Energy.
He could only watch helplessly as that hand drew closer and closer-
Then a figure appeared directly above Mahito.
Madara.
At some point, he had broken free of the Transfigured Humans and leaped into the air, bringing his right leg down like a battle-axe.
"Are you ignoring me?"
His voice was calm, but the killing intent in his words was almost tangible.
Mahito's movements stopped instantly. Then his head abruptly turned a full hundred and eighty degrees, at an angle that completely defied human anatomy.
His neck twisted like a rope toward his back, the smile on his face warped and eerie.
"Fell for it~"
He opened his mouth-and this time, a hand reached out from between those split lips.
The hand emerged from Mahito's mouth, grabbing at Madara in midair with unbelievable speed and at an impossible angle.
Its target-Madara's chest.
"Madara-senpai!!" Itadori cried out.
He had just finished off a Transfigured Human and turned to see this horrifying sight. His heart nearly stopped.
But Madara's expression did not change at all. He did not even dodge.
He merely watched calmly as the hand reached for him. Then, the instant before