The destruction of a Domain means the temporary cessation of a Cursed Technique. Gojo Satoru knew this law well. His Limitless was currently unusable. But he assumed Mirai's Intangibility (Kamui) was also useless.
Whoever restores their technique first wins!
"BOOM!"
Gojo clenched his fist. He tried to summon Red. If I strike first during the burnout period... I win! But as he rushed forward, a strong wind swept across their faces. Mirai's jet-black hair danced wildly. His lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile.
"Shock!"
Gojo's smile froze. A sense of horror washed over him.
BOOM!
Trembling, distorted ripples of the void spread from Mirai's hand. The buildings and greenery crumbled inch by inch. The earth was riddled with deep ravines.
"Gojo-sensei!!"
"Gojo!"
Amidst the dust, everyone saw the truth. Drip... Drip... Blood fell from Gojo's severed arm. He healed it instantly with Reverse Cursed Technique, but the reality was undeniable. In the moment the Domains shattered... Gojo Satoru lost the exchange.
Gojo stared blankly at his restored arm. Why? Why can Fake Smile still use his technique? Why wasn't he affected by Cursed Technique Burnout?
"The Strongest?" Mirai slowly floated into the sky, looking down with blood-red pupils. "The so-called Strongest... is nothing more than this. Keep up the good work, Gojo Satoru. I look forward to your growth."
These words were a perfect mirror of Gojo's own mockery from before.
"Bird Strike!"
Suddenly, crows circled in the sky. Their Cursed Energy spiked—a suicide attack. WHOOSH! The crows flew straight through Mirai's chest... and exploded into blood mist on the other side.
Intangibility.
Mirai glanced at Mei Mei. She's attacking me to prove her loyalty to the Higher-ups. But she's playing both sides. She's taken my money before. Greedy woman.
"HA?!"
Gojo's Cursed Energy erupted again. He had recovered his technique. "Are you planning to run away? Fake Smile! The second round has only just begun!"
Gojo felt the rush of death. The ecstasy of combat. He wanted to reach the ultimate sublimation again, like he did against Toji Fushiguro.
Mirai frowned. Fighting to the death now is a losing proposition. If we kill each other, Kenjaku wins. I've shown enough power to deter the Higher-ups.
"Returning to the past... amidst a flurry of flowers."
"Virtual Expansion: Fall!"
Mirai unleashed a massive spatial distortion. The void rippled. Debris, trees, and buildings were sucked into a spiraling singularity directly above the students.
"Damn it!"
Gojo wanted to pursue, but the attack threatened to crush everyone on the ground.
"Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue!"
Gojo created a point of massive attraction. He sucked the debris away from the students, effectively feeding the singularity to cancel it out.
CRUNCH.
The spatial rift devoured the buildings and trees, then stabilized.
"Huff... huff..." Gojo panted heavily. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He saved the students. But when he looked up... Zenin Mirai was gone.
...
The students stared at Gojo's disheveled figure. They felt like burdens.
"Enjoyable! Truly enjoyable!" A mouth appeared on Yuji's cheek. "Where has your arrogance gone? Where is your pride?"
Ryomen Sukuna laughed maniacally. "Consider yourself the Strongest? If that kid hadn't deliberately held back, you would be dead."
"Shut up!" Yuji slapped his own face. "Stop spouting nonsense, Sukuna! Mirai-sensei ran away because he was scared of Gojo-sensei!"
"Brat," Sukuna sneered. "If you don't believe me, ask your 'Best Teacher'."
Sukuna turned his sinister gaze to Gojo. "When his Domain shattered... he only cut off your arm. Being able to use a technique of that scale immediately after... proves he could have expanded his Domain a second time. So close..."
Sukuna mocked. "You really escaped with your life by a hair's breadth... The Strongest. Hahaha! Enjoyable!"
Inside his Innate Domain, Sukuna sat on his throne of bones, stroking his chin. "This era is truly fascinating!"
On the outside... silence.
Principal Gakuganji stared at Gojo. To the old man, Gojo was an untouchable god. A mischievous, invincible child. But faced with Sukuna's mockery... Gojo Satoru did not refute it.
The silence spoke volumes. Gojo Satoru... Lost.
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