Green and white light flooded the space within the barrier, and due to the crowd, Gojo Satoru couldn't unleash his full power to interrupt Hanami.
Jogo, by contrast, was nearly giving his life to protect the hostages. Even Gojo's Lapse: Blue and Reversal: Red couldn't be used at full strength—it would devastate the innocent.
If Gojo sacrificed a few, Jogo would fight to the death. In such a confined area, any clash of unrestrained power would kill everyone instantly.
Gojo pressed on, determined to exorcise Jogo and the others before casualties mounted—but then Hanami activated a Domain Expansion, forcing Gojo to hesitate. Should he abandon restraint? But how could he risk countless lives in a clash of domains?
Still, Hanami's domain formed instantly. The underground station vanished, replaced by a lush forest. Concrete turned to soil and grass. Vines erupted from beneath the earth, and luminescent lights floated in the air—deceptively serene.
The crowd had no time to admire it. Vines wrapped around them in an instant. Under Hanami's technique, they sank into deep sleep.
Gojo casually snapped two vines—they had low defense and regrew fast. His Six Eyes revealed the true danger: the domain was linking the hostages to its power, pumping them full of vitality but also preparing to reverse that flow and drain their lives at Hanami's will.
The scene looked dreamy, but it hid a lethal trap. Gojo even felt the domain sapping him, albeit slowly.
"Trying to tie me down with hostages," Gojo murmured. He dodged Jogo's flame-wreathed punch and countered with a devastating blow that sliced through. But Jogo healed instantly once the fist withdrew—a result of Hanami's domain buff, as Gojo realized.
That wasn't going to work.
He detached one of Jogo's arms and kicked him away. Then he raised a hand.
"Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void."
A flash of infinite light—so abrupt it felt unreal—then silence fell.
Ignoring Jogo, Gojo rushed toward Hanami, who stood frozen. The clash shattered Hanami's domain in a heartbeat.
"What a difference…" Hanami thought as Gojo's face slammed into his vision—a hand covering his eyes.
"Gojo Satoru!" Jogo roared on the edge of the domain collapse. Normally, Gojo's domain would kill hostages caught within it. Surely, Jogo would have expected that.
But Gojo maintained perfect control. His domain took down Hanami, leaving Jogo furious and enraged.
"Everyone here will die for you, Gojo Satoru!" Jogo bellowed, unleashing his own domain.
"Domain Expansion: Coffin of the Iron Mountain!"
Heat spiked as volcanic fire consumed the area—anyone trapped would be annihilated.
Hanami's head hit the ground. Gojo, under Jogo's furious glare, raised a finger.
"Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void."
He shattered Jogo's domain a second time—this time Jogo barely registered it. Gojo stood with one hand frozen mid-seal, his Six Eyes glaring down.
"Oh… it worked," Jogo panted, drained. "Your domain… it's too strong. But I learned something."
But the power was gone. Jogo could barely summon another word as Gojo advanced.
Jogo tried to block, but Gojo struck—arms shattered, chest pierced, and Gojo emerged clean.
Thrown to the ground, Jogo struggled as life seeped out.
"Gojo Satoru…"
Gojo directed rescue teams to the unconscious hostages. From his Six Eyes, he noticed Jogo reaching for something.
Curious, Gojo began to step forward—until a voice echoed far too familiar.
"Satoru, long time no see."
Gojo turned—and his blood ran cold. Standing before him was Suguru Geto, alive—and holding the Prison Realm.
Gojo's instincts roared—this was impossible. His Six Eyes swore this was Suguru, but he refused to believe it.
Memories flashed. Gojo stared at him.
"Who are you…?"
Before Suguru could answer, chains of cursed energy erupted behind Gojo. He tried to respond—but every limb was bound by tentacles.
"Prison Realm, close."
The cursed object swallowed Gojo utterly.
"Satoru..." Suguru murmured. "I wanted to catch up with you…but it's too late."
He attempted to retrieve the cube—it was rooted to the earth. Undeterred, Suguru turned instead to Jogo, laying prone nearby.
"Let's make use of this one," he said gently.
He placed a red bead in Jogo's mouth. Once swallowed, Suguru glanced at the Prison Realm—and he walked away.
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I be seeing other fanfics with over 400 Powerstones, and we be getting less than 50 lol. Makes me a little sad, honestly 🙂.