Chapter 172: Limited-Time Return — Geto Suguru
"I'll hold him back. You two go save Ria—now!"
Okkotsu Kaguya stepped forward, placing himself in front of the others as an overwhelming torrent of cursed energy erupted from his body.
There was no time to hesitate.
The enemy had already made their move against Ria—if they were delayed here any longer, her chances of survival would drop to almost zero.
"Hold me back?"
"With just you?"
"Geto Suguru" sneered, mockery written plainly across his face.
Behind him, the vortex of cursed spirits grew even larger, forming a wall that felt utterly impossible to cross.
"You despicable bastard!"
Zen'in Kaon glared at him, fury blazing in her eyes.
"Thank you for the compliment," "Geto" replied casually.
"Now then—please enjoy the little gift I've prepared for you."
He lifted his hand.
In the next instant, countless pitch-black arms shot out of the vortex, reaching toward the three of them like a swarm of grasping shadows.
"Watch out!"
Gojo Kamui immediately pushed his Limitless to maximum output, stepping in front of the others. Every single black arm was stopped cold—frozen exactly one meter away from his body.
"You two—go rescue Ria," Kamui said calmly.
"Got it!"
Kaon and Kaguya exchanged a glance.
Given the situation, there was no other choice. Only Kamui could withstand this kind of pressure.
"Don't waste your effort," "Geto" continued to taunt them.
"The place where that alien girl is being held has even more enemies. If they work together, even I would find it troublesome in this state."
He smiled faintly.
"You can't even defeat me—what makes you think you could save your little companion?"
For this mission, they had gathered nearly every powerful curse user still active.
Even old monsters who had long since retired had been dragged back into the fray.
Not to mention the insurance provided by their employer.
For that alien girl, this was practically a death sentence.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The moment "Geto" finished speaking, the entire mountain shook violently.
In the distance, a massive sphere of purple energy surged forward like a bulldozer, slamming straight toward the sky-piercing pillar of cursed energy.
The attack was so overwhelming that it locked the surrounding space itself, pinning Kaon and the others in place.
They couldn't move.
They could only watch as that terrifying mass of energy tore past them, racing toward its distant target.
After the tremors subsided, a bottomless abyssal ravine had opened beside them.
The entire mountain had been split cleanly in two.
Beside "Geto Suguru," the elderly woman appeared once more—her face twisted in terror, her composure completely shattered.
"Grandson! We're leaving—now!"
Before the last word even left her mouth, a figure descended from the sky and landed beside her.
Tucked under his arm was a small, limp figure.
"I just got here," the man said lightly,
"and you're already thinking about running?"
Gojo Satoru rested one hand on the old woman's shoulder, then looked toward Gojo Kamui and the others.
"What are you standing around for?" he said casually.
"Hurry up and take her—get her treated."
"Dad?"
Kamui froze in disbelief.
"Ria!"
Zen'in Kaon had already rushed forward, taking the unconscious Ria from Gojo's grasp.
"What happened to her?!"
"She's fine," Gojo replied.
"She just passed out. No serious injuries. Take her back and have her checked."
Then he waved a hand dismissively.
"You three—scram. Go back already. I'll handle the rest."
"…Oh. Right."
Kamui stared blankly at the mountain that had been cleaved apart, answering on instinct.
Seeing him still dazed, Okkotsu Kaguya quickly grabbed him and pulled him away.
"Principal, we're heading back!"
Once the younger generation had left, Gojo finally turned his attention to "Geto Suguru."
"A séance technique, huh…"
"Geto, you really are popular."
Always popping back up when least expected—just to give him a scare.
"Gojo Satoru," the old woman pleaded,
"please—spare us just this once."
Snap.
In the blink of an eye, Gojo was holding a severed head.
He casually tossed it aside.
The headless corpse collapsed a moment later, blood pouring freely from the neck.
Gojo reached out again, placing his hand on "Geto's" shoulder.
"My best friend…"
"Why...Why do people keep playing with you like this?"
With the caster dead, the possessed body convulsed violently.
Its heart spasmed, flesh twisting unnaturally.
Then—
for a brief moment—
clarity returned.
"Gojo…"
"I didn't think I'd get to see you again."
Geto Suguru lifted his head, meeting Gojo's gaze. His eyes were filled with complicated emotion.
"You've gotten old."
Gojo snorted.
"Old? This is called mature and dependable, okay?"
To his own surprise, seeing his closest friend again didn't stir overwhelming emotion.
Instead—an uncanny calm settled over him.
"So?" Gojo asked.
"How long can you hold on? Want me to take you to see some old friends?"
The séance technique was strange—capable of summoning the dead, sometimes only the body, sometimes body and soul together.
With the old woman dead, the caster's soul faltered for an instant—just long enough for Geto's soul to surface.
"No need," Geto said softly.
"Don't scare them. This body's cursed energy is nearly gone anyway."
He smiled faintly.
"Being able to see you one more time… that's enough."
Geto reached out and patted Gojo on the shoulder.
"Stay true to yourself," he said.
"Don't walk the path I did."
Smack.
Gojo slapped his hand away.
"Get lost already," he snapped.
"Dead and still trying to lecture me. You think everyone's as hopeless as you?"
"…Hah."
After a moment of silence, the two of them laughed together.
No words were needed—one look was enough.
"I'm going," Geto said.
"Just don't come join me too soon."
With that, he summoned a cursed spirit that swallowed him whole—leaving no body behind.
In his own way, he'd helped his best friend eliminate an enemy.
Gojo stood there for a long time, the smile on his face slowly fading.
"…Guess I really am getting sentimental with age."
His eyes sharpened again as he turned toward the forest.
"You've been watching long enough," he said calmly.
"Care to come out? Weren't you here to tour the place?"
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Applause echoed.
A petite figure stepped out from the trees.
"As expected of Earth's strongest sorcerer," she said coolly.
"You live up to the name."
Alice walked forward, gazing at the abyss and the mountain split in two.
Now she truly understood—the weight behind that title was no exaggeration.
"Looks like even if I hadn't shown up," Gojo said thoughtfully,
"Ria would've been fine."
His star-like eyes fixed on her, curiosity flickering within them.
"You knew someone was targeting her."
"No," Alice replied calmly.
"I only sensed my sister using her technique and came to check."
Her tone hardened, icy and absolute.
"But judging from this… someone clearly doesn't want the Simurian and Earth to coexist peacefully."
"No matter how things end between our two worlds," she said quietly,
"I will never tolerate harm coming to Ria."