"Where are they? I'll go down and save them!"
The naive Yuji didn't think too deeply about it. The moment he heard that people were still in danger, he instinctively stepped forward to help.
"That's great! We'll take you there!"
Finding things going even smoother than expected, everyone showed delighted expressions. After all, that person had told them to bring him down, and they didn't dare run off on their own.
"Wait. Why are you going down too? And there are still many people below? There should be other sorcerers at nearby station entrances. They'll handle it."
Standing nearby, Choso picked up on something strange in their full-of-holes explanation.
First of all, how did ordinary people like them manage to hide for so long under the noses of curses and curse users of that level? Even if their path didn't cross with Nanami's group, by human nature, the first thing after escaping danger should be to run.
At the very least, they should be seeking protection from someone strong.
But these people came straight to Yuji, as if they had already decided on him. Not only were they asking him for help, they were even insisting on guiding him.
Anyone with a bit of sense could tell something was wrong.
Well… Yuji was an exception.
He didn't grow up under his protection, so he turned out this innocent.
That was his fault…
Without realizing it, Choso began blaming himself again.
"Uhh…"
"Please! Hurry and come with us! If we're too late, everyone will die!"
Someone didn't know how to respond, but another person burst into tears in panic.
Fifteen minutes.
That was all the time they had left.
"Don't worry. If it gets too dangerous, I'll let Sukuna come out and help."
Even someone as straightforward as Yuji could sense something was off now. But just as expected, even knowing it might be a trap, he would still go.
Because someone needed help.
This was exactly what Kenjaku had learned over a thousand years, how to exploit human nature.
"I'll go with you."
Unexpectedly, after hearing Yuji's answer, Choso stepped forward without hesitation.
No matter what danger lay ahead, he would always walk in front of his younger brother. That was his duty as an older brother. His strength existed to protect him.
"Alright!"
They didn't call for the other sorcerers on the surface, since the two of them were already the strongest available nearby.
The brothers followed the group toward the so-called "trapped people."
It only took two or three minutes.
They didn't run into any obstacles, nor did they meet any sorcerers entering from other stations. All the barriers had already disappeared.
* * *
Just like that, the group arrived at the lowest platform.
Ahead of them, nearly a hundred people were huddled in a corner. Sitting right in front of them was an old man with stitches across his head, casually playing with a small box in his hand.
"Yuji Itadori, you finally came. Should I say nice to meet you, or long time no see?"
Noticing them arrive, Kenjaku stood up with a smile. If not for the fear on the faces of the people behind him, he would look like nothing more than a kind old man.
"I don't remember meeting you."
Yuji had already taken a fighting stance, while Choso stood beside him, ready to support at any moment.
"It's enough that I remember. And you, failed product, can you get out of my sight?"
The instant Kenjaku looked at Choso, his tone changed, the disgust and contempt completely undisguised.
"Failed product? You… Noritoshi Kamo?!"
Choso froze for a brief moment. Then his expression changed completely. Rage filled his eyes, and even the marks on his nose began to bleed.
This was the man who hurt their mother. The one who turned him and his brothers into what they are now.
"Um… we brought the person down. As agreed, we can leave now, right?"
As the tension in the air thickened, a few people from the group behind Kenjaku couldn't help but speak up.
"So it's true… these bastards…"
Even though he had expected it, witnessing it happen right in front of him still made Choso clench his fists until they creaked. If not for his younger brother, he would have already killed them all.
"You told them to find me. Then let them go. I'll stay and play with you."
Yuji didn't blame anyone. He had experienced the fear of death himself and knew that in such situations most people would do anything to survive.
And he had already made up his mind to risk his life to save others.
"Of course. Things that have lost their value should be discarded," Kenjaku replied with a smile, his words carrying another meaning.
"Great!"
The crowd behind him immediately started pushing and shoving, scrambling to escape past them.
What was laughable was that not a single one of them thanked Yuji, as if his sacrifice was only natural. Some even mocked him in their hearts, thinking he was foolish enough to fall for such an obvious trap.
"Idle Transfiguration."
At that moment, Kenjaku raised his stitched hand. During the waiting time, he had already placed trigger marks on nearly everyone.
"Ahhh!"
The people who were running suddenly screamed as their bodies began to swell and distort. They never imagined they would die at the very moment they were closest to escape.
"How could this… you promised…"
Among the crowd, only a few who hadn't been marked stood frozen, trembling as they questioned Kenjaku.
"What did you do?!"
As expected, Yuji's emotions exploded and his eyes turned bloodshot.
"Hm? I'm the villain. Why should I keep my word? If you want to make deals with me, you need a binding vow."
Kenjaku laughed.
Cruel and deliberate.
Everything here was just a performance.
A show meant to completely break Yuji's spirit.
"You bastard!"
Seeing Yuji's eyes filled with pain, Choso wished he could take that suffering instead.
He slammed his hands together as a surge of cursed energy gathered between his palms, the blood there compressing violently.
"Blood Manipulation, Convergence: Piercing Blood!"
Up to now, Piercing Blood was the strongest killing move passed down through generations of the Kamo clan.
By compressing blood to its absolute limit and firing it from a single point, it achieved incredible speed and power. At the moment it was released, its speed could reach or even surpass the speed of sound.
In the next instant, the blood arrow shot out from between Choso's palms, carrying the fury of the Death Painting brothers as it blasted toward Kenjaku.
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!