"You damn mongrel!" Sukuna growled, a murderous sound squeezed between his teeth, every word steeped in the King of Curses' fury. "Nero!"
"Didn't you say you wouldn't stop my recovery? What are you doing now!!!"
Sukuna's roar carried solidified malice, shaking the ruins around him. Mid-air, the white-haired man—Taisai Tensei—let out a soft, disdainful sneer. The mocking sound echoed clearly, reaching everyone's ears.
He descended slowly, posture lazy and arrogant, his shoetips brushing the ground and stirring a wisp of dust.
"I had no intention of interfering," his voice was calm.
"But Sukuna," he tilted his head slightly, a few strands of white hair falling over his eyes, "you are too slow."
"From Shibuya until now—fifteen whole days." He held up a single finger, his tone tinged with irritation. "And you're still in this—"
His gaze trailed over the broken, charred body of Megumi Fushiguro—the vessel Sukuna inhabited—then stopped on the curse's twisted expression.
"—feeble state."
"Furthermore," Taisai Tensei's lips curved faintly, a mocking smile playing at the corners, "do you truly need to stoop so low? To tear at the throat of a broken girl for a hint of amusement?"
He didn't spare Sukuna another glance. As the curse's fury surged, Taisai Tensei walked calmly toward Hana Kurusu, who sat dazed amid the debris. In stark contrast to the icy indifference he showed Sukuna, his expression softened. He bent naturally, extending his hand with gentle poise.
The lines of his face melted into warmth, his smile tender as spring light—an effortless charm befitting a celebrity.
"It's alright, Miss Hana Kurusu," his deep, soothing voice carried a tranquil power. "Can you stand?"
Hana's unfocused eyes slowly regained clarity, locking onto his gaze.
"Ne… Nero?" she whispered, disbelief trembling in her voice. She knew this man—too well. Because she had attended every one of his concerts.
Taisai Tensei smiled faintly. "Yes, it's me. My fan."
Hana's breath caught. "You… you knew?"
She had never bought a ticket to those shows.
"Of course," he said softly. "You were always hidden on the scaffolding above the stage. You even came to every signing event."
Her eyes reddened. "I… I loved your music too much. I couldn't afford tickets, so I could only watch from there—"
He took her trembling hand, helping her rise. "It's alright. I felt your sincerity."
Then, with a casual gesture, Taisai Tensei drew a black crack in the air. Space tore like silk, and from the rift stumbled Rime—his white monk's robe drenched in blood.
"Lord Sukuna!" Uraume cried, but before he could take another step, Taisai Tensei kicked him aside like refuse, sending him crashing into Sukuna.
Sukuna caught the body midair, nails digging deep into Rime's shoulder. His four crimson eyes narrowed, a wicked grin spreading. "Interesting~ You understand me well, Nero."
Taisai Tensei stood with hands in his pockets, tilting his chin toward Uraume. "Eat him. Let's see if the real you can entertain me."
Uraume trembled, retrieving a black wooden box from his robes. The lid snapped open—inside lay three withered fingers and a decayed skull. Sukuna's pupils constricted sharply. That was—his own head.
"Hahahaha!" he burst into maniacal laughter, snatching the box. "So be it! This King will grant your wish!"
He stuffed the fingers and skull into his mouth.
Crunch—
The sound was bone-chilling. Megumi's body twisted violently, grotesque markings spreading across his skin. Sukuna's cursed energy erupted like a tsunami, shaking the entire dimension.
Yuji Itadori fell to one knee, cold sweat pouring down his back. "This— this is the real Sukuna?"
Just standing in the storm made his every cell scream in terror.
Taisai Tensei tilted his head. "Still a little short?" He turned to Yuji. "Where's the Prison Realm?"
"Still… in Shibuya!" Yuji blurted.
A casual flick—space parted. The ominous black cube fell at their feet.
Taisai's sword unsheathed an inch. A flash of light—
Boom!
Smoke exploded outward.
"Ah~ I'm out, I'm out~" a light voice cut through the dust. A white-haired man stretched lazily. "That nap lasted a bit long."
"Gojo-sensei?!" Yuji gasped as Sukuna's laughter erupted.
Sukuna's eyes flared. "Gojo Satoru!"
He ripped his shirt open, revealing a mass of writhing curse marks. "You've come just in time! I'll tear you—and that damned pretty boy—apart!!"
Gojo's cerulean eyes narrowed, a smirk curling his lips. "Sukuna."
The name was spoken casually, yet it froze the air solid.
Sukuna's energy ignited into black fire. "Die!!"
He launched himself like a missile, the earth shattering beneath his feet—yet halfway through, he froze.
'Megumi Fushiguro?!'
Inside, a buried consciousness stirred—thorns of resistance coiling around Sukuna's energy flow. Megumi's soul, long suppressed, was fighting back.
"Heh." Taisai Tensei folded his arms. "The vessel is resisting."
Gojo appeared in front of Sukuna, their noses nearly touching. "Can't even control your body," he mocked, wagging his finger. "How'll you kill me and—"
In a blink, he was beside Taisai, hand resting on his shoulder. "…this celebrity little brother?"
"Mongrel!!" Sukuna snarled, clawing at his own throat.
Taisai swatted Gojo's hand away, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Pointless," he said coldly. "Sukuna's last finger is with you."
Gojo raised a brow. "Ah, that."
"Hand it over."
Gojo blinked. "You can't be serious, little brother."
"This Sukuna is meaningless," Taisai repeated.
"Hey, hey!" Gojo twirled a finger at his temple. "If we do that, Fushiguro will be completely gone."
"I know."
"You know—?!" Gojo's voice rose.
A wild grin spread across Taisai's face. "That's why it'll be fun."
Silence.
Even Sukuna stopped moving.
Gojo's eyes flickered twice, then he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Hahahaha! Interesting! It's f***ing interesting!!!"
His laughter died as suddenly as it began, replaced by a glacial tone. "Are you sure? That Sukuna will be terrifyingly strong."
"I know."
"Then—" Gojo's smile sharpened to madness. "Can you win?"
Taisai's hand fell to his sword, the Yamato humming in its sheath. His eyes lifted past Gojo, locking on Sukuna's swelling energy.
"I will win."
— — — — — — — —
The words cut through the air like thunder.
Gojo's cerulean eyes flared with excitement—an electric current running through his veins.
"Hahahaha! Good!" he shouted. "Then here!"
He hooked two fingers toward the sky.
A beam of cerulean light tore through the heavens, descending as a black dot that screamed through the air.
Gojo caught it effortlessly—an ancient wooden box—and without looking, flung it toward Taisai Tensei.
Tensei caught it backhanded and, with a flick of his wrist, hurled it toward Sukuna like garbage.
Sukuna's roar split the world. "You—MONGREL!!!"
Humiliation and fury fused into madness. He crushed the box and its final finger, shoving it all into his mouth.
Crunch!
Then—
BOOM!!!
An explosion of absolute blackness swallowed the ruins. Cursed energy surged pure and primal, reducing everything to dust. Megumi's body warped hideously, skin tearing as marks slithered like serpents. Four new arms ripped forth. A mouth gaped open on his abdomen.
The true King of Curses was born.
Gojo clicked his tongue, eyes gleaming. "Tsk tsk~ even more frightening than I thought."
He looked at Taisai and grinned. "Go for it, little brother. If you lose—" he pointed at himself, "—the strongest will back you up."
But Taisai didn't look at him. His gaze remained locked on the towering demon.
"No need," he said quietly. "Sukuna will die."
He paused, eyes piercing through the roiling darkness.
"Your student," his voice softened to a razor's whisper, "will live."