Chapter-281
Seeing the almost simultaneous attacks from Zenin Naobito and Toji, Zenin Kiyoshi was not particularly surprised.
However, he was somewhat surprised that Toji was able to break free from the state of being controlled by the Seance Technique as soon as he saw him.
But saying that he had escaped that state was actually just an intermittent burst of lucidity before death. Zenin Kiyoshi could see that the black matter was constantly invading Toji's eyes again and again.
Even so, he needs to prove his identity as soon as possible, as the attacks from Zenin Naobito and Toji clearly do not seem like a joke.
"Cursed Technique - Blue!"
The moment that familiar azure sphere appeared beside Zenin Kiyoshi, the two who were charging towards him instantly stopped in their tracks and retreated rapidly.
"You, you really are Xiaoqing?!"
Zenin Naobito stared at the technique before him, a technique that no one but Gojo Satoru and Zenin Kiyoshi could possibly have used, and his head went completely numb.
The feeling of seeing the dead come back to life before his eyes made Zenin Naobito feel as if he were living in a dream.
Am I drunk right now? No, could it be that my arm being cut off was just a drunken fantasy?
Looking at Zenin Kiyoshi before him, Zenin Naobito rubbed his eyes, then slapped himself hard. Upon feeling the pain, he could no longer hold back his tears. Without any hesitation, he rushed straight towards Zenin Kiyoshi.
This time, Zenin Kiyoshi did not stop the old man from rushing towards him.
As he was suddenly patted on the back, Zenin Kiyoshi looked up and saw the old man's face, which was both laughing and crying.
"Damn it! Damn it! You damned brat! If you weren't dead, why did you disappear for ten years?! Do you know how many accidents were caused by your death during this time?!"
"You stupid brat, do you know how long I was heartbroken because of your death? Do you know I drank myself into alcohol poisoning and almost didn't make it to the hospital?!"
While cursing Zenin Kiyoshi, Zenin Naobito kept shedding tears. At this moment, he completely forgot his own pain, and his heart was filled with only joy and excitement at Zenin Kiyoshi's return to life.
However, at that moment, Zenin Naobito felt his severed arm suddenly itch, and the next instant, he was surprised to find that his arm had been repaired.
Zenin Kiyoshi gently pushed the old man's arm away, then said with a smile:
"Grandpa, you smell strongly of alcohol and old people don't smell good either, so please don't hug me like that. By the way, your arm has been repaired, otherwise I'll have to let you win when we play chess in the future."
Looking at his arm, which had fully recovered, a tear still lingered in Zenin Naobito's eye. He slapped Zenin Kiyoshi's head hard, then laughed and scolded:
"You little brat, you've never beaten me at chess!"
Just as Zenin Kiyoshi was about to say something more, Nanami Kento walked over from the other side. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, his voice trembling slightly.
"Zenin-senpai... why are you still here? Weren't you supposed to be dead? Could it be that you haven't died all these past ten years?! And that you've been hiding for some reason?!"
"Have you been here all these past ten years, merely watching us silently, witnessing our grief and anxious worry over your death?! I want to know the specific reason; please answer me directly! Zenin-senpai!"
By the end, Nanami Kento's voice was tinged with barely suppressed anger.
The death of Haibara Yu, the death of Toji, the rebellion and death of Geto Suguru!
These things still lingered in Nanami Kento's mind. If Zenin Kiyoshi knew about these things, then he would absolutely never forgive him for hiding for the past ten years!
Looking at Nanami Kento, whose forehead veins were bulging, Zenin Kiyoshi simply sighed softly, then looked at Toji, who was still struggling to control his body, and slowly said:
"If you insist on an answer, Nanami, then I am indeed dead. My current state is similar to that of Toji over there; it is a special case of Seance Technique."
I don't really know how long I can keep this up. I might disappear at any moment, but until then, I want to help you as much as possible.
The moment he heard Zenin Kiyoshi's voice, Nanami froze on the spot. He stared at Zenin Kiyoshi, the anger and a deeply hidden expectation in his eyes vanishing in an instant.
"Is that so... I'm sorry, Kiyoshi-senpai, I was blinded by my emotions. But if you were still here, perhaps none of those sad things that happened during these past ten years would have occurred..."
At this moment, it was as if half of his energy and spirit had been drained away. He instantly became dejected, his voice was extremely low, and he was just panting heavily.
"Nanami, if I had to say who I could trust the most when I was dying, it would be you. Geto and Gojo, both of them have some flaws in their personalities, but you are the only one I feel I can rely on the most."
Whether in work or in life, you've always had your own principles. I believed you could do everything well, and now I'm even more certain that my initial judgment was correct. Everyone in the Jujutsu High is still the same as before. You must be working very hard. I'm sorry to have burdened you with adult responsibilities so early.
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Nanami felt a lump in his throat and tears began to stream down his face. He didn't want to say anything, or rather, he didn't feel he could bear Zenin Kiyoshi's praise.
However, after the other party said those words, Nanami could no longer control his emotions. He lowered his head, trying his best not to let others see his expression, but his shoulders, which were constantly rising and falling, already showed his emotions at that moment.
Toji did not launch an attack as he did in the original story. He stood there, stunned, his whole body trembling. Zenin Kiyoshi could tell that Toji was fighting for control of his body against the rampage of the Seance Technique.
Zenin Kiyoshi frowned slightly as he glanced at Dagon, who had already rescued Mahito and was preparing to attack them.
Chapter-282
Perhaps it is because of itself that there is no "Dagon" or "Hanami" in this world who have died.
If these two were not present, the fighting strength of the Cursed Spirits should have suffered a significant loss.
However... the Cursed Energy emanating from this Dagon is clearly much stronger than that in the original story.
If the Dagon in the original work was the weakest of the Disaster Curses, then the Dagon that appeared before him now, judging from the Cursed Energy emanating from it, was definitely much stronger than the one in the original work.
It seems that the absence of some Cursed Spirits in this timeline has significantly amplified Dagon's strength.
This Dagon is definitely not someone that Toji can simply deal with physically.
Zenin Kiyoshi did not address Toji's Seance Technique problem first, because he knew that, given Toji's current mechanics, he would only target the strongest opponent.
Since Dagon has already launched an attack on everyone, if I go to help Toji with his physical problems at this time, it will only put the others in danger.
He was different; he was fully capable of dealing with the simultaneous attacks of Dagon, Mahito, and Toji.
"Zenin Naobito! Nanami! Take Megumi and Maki and leave here! Go and support the sorcerers in other regions. I can handle things here by myself. You will only be adding to my burden if you stay here!"
Although Maki had some recollection of Zenin Kiyoshi, it was a long time ago. While she no longer had as many memories of being abused by her father as a child, she still possessed a fiery temper and a strong sense of pride. Faced with Zenin Kiyoshi's words, she retorted with some dissatisfaction:
"Hey! You bastard, we're not a burden by staying here. Someone like that, I can..."
However, before Maki could finish speaking, a terrifying domain that seemed to cover the entire beach appeared beneath Zenin Kiyoshi's feet.
"Domain Expansion - The Dazzling Light Rabbit!"
The moment Zenin Kiyoshi's domain unfolded, it was as if countless seeds had been planted on the entire beach.
Almost instantly, the colorful petals swirled in the air, forcibly covering the ocean territory of Dagon.
The moment the waves touched the sea of flowers, they transformed into the most ordinary remnants of Cursed Energy, dissipating into the flower field like shattered mirrors.
"How is this possible?!"
Seeing this, Dagon instinctively let out an incredulous shout.
For him, this was the first time that he had been completely overwhelmed and defeated by the enemy in a direct confrontation!
Dagon could sense that his domain was being covered and devoured by some more powerful and tyrannical force.
Zenin Kiyoshi stood before the crowd, his robes fluttering wildly amidst the clashing of magical powers.
He didn't even glance at the Dagon attacking him, but turned to Mahito, his tone unwavering and resolute:
"Although my words were a bit harsh, now is definitely not the time to be stubborn."
This Cursed Spirit is at least three times stronger than a normal Special Grade Cursed Spirit in terms of total Cursed Energy. Without your domain activated, you absolutely cannot survive here relying solely on a Simple Domain or [Falling Blossom Emotion].
Furthermore, your presence within my domain prevents me from fully utilizing its power, so leaving is the best option at this time!
Before Nanami Kento had even finished speaking at the Zenin, he had already unconditionally believed the other party's judgment.
He pulled Megumi, who was still in a daze beside him, and said sternly:
"Follow orders! If we stay here any longer, we'll only hinder Zenin Kiyoshi's fight. Sometimes we need to be realistic about everyone's strength and not try to be reckless at times like this, as that will only drag others down!"
Zenin Naobito gazed at Zenin Kiyoshi's retreating figure, sighed heavily, and wore an expression that said, "I knew this would happen." He muttered to himself:
"That brat... He was practically a corpse on the verge of death, yet he still acts like this after being resurrected! He's such a troublemaker, whether he's dead or alive, it's all the same!"
Although he kept complaining, he had already pulled the still somewhat stubborn Maki over to him.
"Maki, don't be reckless now. You should have been attacked as well. I can tell you very clearly that the amount of Cursed Energy that guy attacked accounted for 50% of my power, 40% of Nanami's power, and for you, it was just scraps."
Even with that level of attack, you've been injured to this extent, and that guy is clearly going all out now. If you stay here any longer, you'll only become a hindrance in their battle!
If you want to become stronger, you must face your current weakness. To act tough now is just as meaningless as despising yourself in your current state!
As Maki listened to Zenin Naobito's words, she clenched her teeth slightly, wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.
Led by Zenin Naobito, the group escaped from Zenin Kiyoshi's domain.
"You're the one who hurt Mahito to this extent?"
Dagon's voice was filled with icy killing intent, as if if Zenin Kiyoshi nodded, he would separate Zenin Kiyoshi's head from his body in the next moment.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi ignored Dagon, because Toji beside him either felt that he didn't care how crazy he went after seeing the other weak people leave, or he could no longer suppress the side effects of the Seance Technique.
Suddenly, Toji charged towards the Zenin, and with a single kick, a large portion of the surrounding flower field was blown away by the powerful force.
But Zenin Kiyoshi didn't even turn around. He simply raised his hand, and the countless seas of flowers within his domain suddenly condensed into chains, binding Toji tightly.
"I'm sorry, Toji."
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice carried a hint of helplessness, regardless of whether Toji could even hear him at this moment:
"After we deal with this guy, you can beat me up however you want, but right now I really don't have time to mess around with you here."
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Dagon launched a full-force attack, causing the entire ocean to boil. Countless strange sea monsters from the seabed swept towards the Zenin with giant waves.
"careful!"
Just before leaving, Zenin Naobito cried out in surprise.
However, in response to the attack from Dagon, Zenin Kiyoshi simply expanded the surrounding space again. In an instant, countless seas of flowers surrounded the sea monsters, accompanied by a "gurgling" sound that was almost like sucking.
In just a short while, the sea monsters were decomposed by the flower petals and turned into a cloud of blood mist.
Chapter-283
For Zenin Kiyoshi in his current state, as long as the opponent does not have the ability to break through the limit, then no matter how many times his Cursed Energy is enhanced, it is actually meaningless.
For ranged attacks, he now possesses the Black Bird Manipulation Technique, Malevolent Shrine Technique, Cursed Spirit Manipulation Technique, and Limitless Technique.
Melee attacks with Limitless, projecting spells, and physical strength bound by Heavenly Restriction.
In terms of domain, he also possesses a 120% intensity of the Ocean of Light, coupled with his knowledge of Barrier techniques. Apart from a few top-tier individuals, Zenin Kiyoshi doesn't think he would lose to them in a Domain Expansion clash.
In short, Zenin had little confidence against Gojo Satoru and Sukuna at their peak, but against anyone else, he had a near 100% win rate.
Although the current Dagon has been strengthened several times over, it is only that the strength of its domain has increased and the power of its spells has increased. There is basically no difference in other aspects, and there has been no fundamental improvement.
Blood mist gradually filled the air. Dagon looked at Zenin Kiyoshi in front of him and felt his scalp tingling. He could feel that his opponent was far superior to him in both the clash of domains and the precision of his spells.
Looking at Mahito still panting heavily beside him, Dagon quickly analyzed the current situation in his mind.
If I continue to stay here and get entangled with Zenin Kiyoshi, I will surely die, and the Mahito on whom he has placed such high hopes will certainly not be able to live after I die.
That guy with the weird bangs was only cooperating with them for some other reason, so his credibility was very low.
If you hand a Mahito over to someone like that, the outcome probably won't be good.
Taking a deep breath, Dagon immediately chose to shrink the domain while increasing its strength.
He needed to escape from here, escape from that man, and take Mahito away from Shibuya first; otherwise, he wasn't confident he could survive the subsequent battles.
Since Gojo Satoru has already been sealed, the man must have overheard their conversation just now, which was probably just an unexpected situation during the Seance Technique.
The abnormality of the technique will not last long. When the body is almost completely destroyed, that will be the moment when Zenin Kiyoshi completely disappears from this world.
He has plenty of time to wait. Once Gojo Satoru and the man in front of him have disappeared, it will be the world of Cursed Spirits!
Three sea serpents suddenly rose from the sea beneath Zenin Kiyoshi's feet, their scarlet, foul-smelling mouths wide open. Their hundreds-of-meters-long bodies exuded an oppressive aura, instantly blocking all of Zenin Kiyoshi's escape routes.
But Dagon knew that these attacks couldn't even stop the man for a second.
He needs to seize any opportunity to escape!
The stronger a person is, the more they understand the gap between themselves and others.
Just from that one clash, Dagon knew he had no chance of defeating Zenin Kiyoshi.
Ignoring the astonishment and shouts of the people around him, Dagon carried the people and rushed directly into the distance.
"Hey! Dagon, why did you run away?! Wasn't that guy already locked in your domain? That guy's soul is very strong. My domain can't amplify my spells. It can only simplify the conditions for [touching], so I can't beat that guy."
But you're different! Your domain can amplify the power of spells, and you also have a near-limitless number of sea beasts. That guy doesn't have much Cursed Energy. If the two of us work together, we have a chance to keep him there!
Don't run away!
Listening to Mahito's words, Dagon knew that Mahito was blinded by hatred and anger. He was only thinking about how to kill Zenin Kiyoshi and had not considered anything deeper.
Dagon felt somewhat exhausted by Mahito's current state.
Before he was born, he actually had vague memories, in which he should have had two companions.
One is a spirit of nature burning with flames, the other is a spirit of nature full of vitality.
However, the spirit of fire had already died before he was born.
The spirits of nature became their enemies, and they were killed by their own hands.
What made Dagon even more uneasy was the ability that the man displayed, which was similar to that of the spirit of nature from back then.
If we look at it this way, then the man named Zenin Kiyoshi must have had some connection with the spirit of nature.
The other party would definitely not let them go easily. He had already sensed that intense killing intent that was almost undisguised!
Run! Run away immediately!
That guy is definitely not someone we can handle!
But the next moment, Dagon felt a slight chill in his body, and when he came to his senses, his vision suddenly began to flip.
A startled exclamation came from the person beside him, and what came into view was his lower body, which was bleeding profusely.
"Dagon!"
If he were a human, he would already be dead. The moment this thought crossed Dagon's mind, another sense of crisis washed over him.
Without any hesitation, Dagon ripped off his own head with his bare hands and threw it far away.
The next moment, the instant his head was ripped off, his entire upper body was cleaved into minced meat by countless invisible slashes.
Although his head, which had fallen to the ground, reassembled his body within a few breaths, the shadow of death still loomed over Dagon, causing him to gasp for breath.
At this moment, Mahito also broke free from Dagon's remaining body and rushed straight towards Dagon.
But just as Mahito rushed over, Dagon seemed to see countless slashes appearing in the air, and he roared at Mahito:
"Don't come any closer! It's Mahito!"
But it was too late. Mahito's body was chopped into pieces almost instantly, with only the head remaining intact. The rest of the body had turned into irreparable minced meat.
Looking at the immortal who had temporarily lost the ability to move, Zenin Kiyoshi slowly walked to Dagon. He looked down at Dagon and said indifferently:
"How many people have you eaten so far?"
"If it were you, would you remember how many slices of bread you ate?"
Dagon raised his head, his eyes filled with resentment as he looked at Zenin Kiyoshi. The anger and killing intent that almost overflowed seemed to want to kill Zenin Kiyoshi from afar.
Zenin Kiyoshi nodded slightly in response, and then said:
"In that case, let's say you've eaten ten thousand people, ten thousand cuts. If you can't survive ten thousand cuts before you die, then they'll die with you."
If you can withstand 10,000 cuts, then I can let him live a little longer, understand?
Chapter-284
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice was very soft, but it made both Dagon and Mahito feel a deep malice, a malice that seemed to come from the deepest abyss, a hatred that was pure to the extreme.
As Zenin Kiyoshi's words fell, the already quiet floor fell into an even deeper, deathly silence.
"How much longer do you mean by 'allowing a Mahito to live'?"
The voice of the Dagon was not distorted by fear; it seemed to have accepted its fate and had no intention of resisting whatsoever.
Listening to Dagon's words, Mahito recklessly tried to mobilize his Cursed Energy, but found that the Cursed Energy around him had become as sharp as a blade. Every time he tried to mobilize his Cursed Energy, he would be stabbed by the blade.
As for the question about Dagon, Zenin Kiyoshi answered calmly:
"He will die a little later than you, but I'm not sure exactly how much later; it depends on when I want to kill him."
"It will take at least two hours!"
Dagon gazed at the Zenin, his voice hoarse.
"You are not qualified to negotiate with me."
"I still have undigested humans inside my stomach! They're stored in my domain. If you agree to my request, I'll release them!"
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Dagon, his eyes narrowing slightly, and then said:
"If I threaten that guy's life right now, you'll still release those humans, won't you?"
"No, I know you will never let us go, and I also know that the lives of ordinary people are not worth much. It is impossible to exchange them for the lives of real people."
But the two hours of survival and the torture I endured were enough to make the price worthwhile!
If you threaten me with a Mahito's life, then I won't discuss it with you, because a Mahito is not afraid of death. He would commit suicide the moment you threaten him. But I'm different. I want Mahito to live, even if it's just for two hours.
He has unlimited potential for growth; he might survive within two hours.
Zenin Kiyoshi nodded slightly at Dagon's words, then said calmly:
"Okay, I agree to your request."
"Establish a Binding Vow!"
With a hoarse voice, Dagon addressed the Zenin with the Binding Vows.
Zenin Kiyoshi naturally wouldn't refuse. In two hours, the Mahito could complete the transformation from the [Cursed Womb] to the [Mature Body]. Knowing the original work, he naturally understood this and knew that Dagon probably saw this as an opportunity, thinking that the Mahito would have more chances to escape.
Zenin Kiyoshi also intended to let the Mahito live to the [mature stage], after all, he also wanted to try whether his Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique could directly extract the Mahito's [Idle Transfiguration] here.
If possible, I wouldn't need to show mercy to real people in the real-world timeline.
The moment the contract was signed, Zenin Kiyoshi slowly raised his hand, his fingertips swirling with icy incantations:
"The first cut."
An invisible slash swept through the air, and then, Dagon's right arm was severed at the shoulder, the wound as smooth as a mirror.
Before it could even feel the pain, it saw its arm turn to ashes in mid-air, with blood splattering everywhere.
"Hmm!"
The excruciating pain of his broken arm caused Dagon to scream. Even though he tried his best to suppress it, the bone-deep agony still made him groan a few times.
What terrified it even more was that a Cursed Energy was circulating around the arm that had been cut open by the Zenin, helping to heal its injuries.
That Cursed Energy was different from the human's Reverse Cursed Technique; it was a repair technique used exclusively by Cursed Spirits.
Dagon raised his head and looked at the Zenin Kiyoshi before him, feeling as if the other's body had transformed into a Cursed Spirit at this moment!
"Who exactly are you...?"
Its voice was dry and hoarse, but it did not receive a reply from Zenin Kiyoshi.
Mahito, witnessing this scene, rolled his still-intact head repeatedly and roared at the Zenin:
"Stop! You bastard! Stop right now!"
Zenin Kiyoshi ignored Mahito's roar. He simply looked at Mahito expressionlessly, then slashed out with his sword, slicing Mahito's jaw so that he could no longer make a sound.
When Junpei died, he let out the same wail, but Mahito still killed him.
Junpei suffered more when his mother died than he does now.
The tears shed by ordinary people who are used as weapons by real people are more painful than those shed by Mahito today!
He looked at Dagon, and his raised finger tapped lightly again:
"The second cut."
As Zenin Kiyoshi's voice faded, Dagon's left arm was severed.
As blood splattered, Dagon let out several more screams, the intense pain causing his body to tremble slightly.
"Remember what you promised me, let the Mahito live for two hours!"
Dagon's voice was filled with undisguised pain; the intense pain made his voice tremble.
"The third cut."
However, Zenin Kiyoshi's voice remained completely unmoved by this intense emotion from the Cursed Spirit.
He has no right to forgive the humans who were swallowed by the Dagon, nor does he have the right to forgive the Cursed Spirits on behalf of the surviving cyborgs.
Dagon's left leg disappeared...
Looking at the scene before him, his jaw shattered, he tried to make a sound, but couldn't utter a single word.
Blood and bits of flesh blocked his throat and mouth, leaving him only able to let out muffled moans.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked down at the convulsing Dagon on the ground, his cold eyes devoid of any emotion:
"I'm curious, when you chose to eat humans, did you ever think that you would end up like this?"
The blades flashed like a torrential rain, each strike precisely slicing off a part of Dagon's body while cleverly avoiding vital points.
Thousands upon thousands of slashes intertwined in the air, creating a symphony of death.
When the 9,999th cut came down, Dagon had already turned into a writhing mass of flesh, with only half of his face still able to emit faint groans.
Zenin Kiyoshi slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gathering the last of his Cursed Energy:
"The final cut."
As Zenin Kiyoshi's final blow fell, Dagon's life came to an end.
It seems that because he had finally ended his suffering, Dagon even had a smile on his face when he died.
Dagon did not forget his promise to Zenin Kiyoshi. Just before he died, some ordinary people who had fainted suddenly appeared in the corridor not far away.
Those people were covered in slime, and their skin and clothes were corroded to varying degrees, but judging from their senses, they were at least alive.
At this moment, Mahito looked at the dissipating Dagon, and tears of blood almost streamed down his face!
Chapter-285
After setting up a protective Barrier around the half-crippled body of the Mahito, Zenin Kiyoshi of the Zenin Clan left the place.
There were still many things to do. Through the Black Crow's perspective, Zenin Kiyoshi observed that Kugisaki Nobara seemed to have encountered some trouble as well.
Although the Mahito in his hand is the original body, that guy is somewhat different from the one in the original work. It seems that he sent out his clone early on.
Although the Mahito's clone cannot use the [Idle Transfiguration], the Mahito in this timeline seems to be much stronger than before.
Kugisaki Nobara is now being suppressed by the Mahito's clone, and it seems that she is in a precarious situation.
What's even more disgusting is that the ponytail-wearing blonde bastard, Shigemo Haruta, is now following behind Kugisaki Nobara, and every now and then he'll sneak up on her when she's not paying attention.
As for Itadori, he is still being chased by the shogun. Zenin Kiyoshi doesn't plan to rescue Itadori, since he hasn't found Nanako and Mimiko in his sights yet. He has to wait until the two of them come out before he can take action.
Although he didn't know the two of them, Sukuna's fingers were with them, and since Geto Suguru had raised them like daughters, Zenin Kiyoshi still wanted to protect them.
At least don't let him be cut into pieces like in the original story.
Shaking his head, Zenin Kiyoshi looked back at Toji, who was still standing in the same spot. After thinking for a moment, he pulled Toji along and rushed towards Kugisaki Nobara.
"Hehehe! You're really a tough one. You managed to survive for so long. Why are you still unwilling to die? There shouldn't be any possibility of you surviving by now."
Hearing the mockery from the person before her, Kugisaki Nobara merely spat out a mouthful of blood towards where he was. She wedged the nail between her fingers, gripped the hammer tightly in her right hand, and smiled contemptuously:
"Even if I die right here, I will never show the slightest hint of begging for mercy to you two filthy bastards. If you want to see a beautiful woman begging for mercy, then at least bring a handsome and sunny guy over here!"
Upon hearing this, the man's face showed a slightly sad expression. His face, covered in stitched wounds, smiled faintly, and then he said:
"Hey~ you really know how to hurt people with your words. If it were any other time, I would definitely modify your mouth and then have a proper conversation with you."
But... I'm a bit busy today, so could you please die in a little peace?
After saying that, Mahito, together with Shigemo Haruta who was not far away, rushed towards the direction of Kugisaki Nobara.
Looking at the desperate situation of Kugisaki Nobara, Mahito's face showed little joy. He was frowning and trying to sense the direction of his main body.
However, ever since that man appeared in front of the original body, it has lost all contact with the original body.
He and his original body were both created from the same soul, so logically they should be able to share soul information under any circumstances.
Even within the domain, one would not be isolated, but after the man activated the domain, his vision was plunged into darkness.
Damn it, I can't get in touch with them at all!
Mahito couldn't help but feel a little anxious, but since he still existed, it meant that his original body had not died.
The clone felt a little less anxious knowing that Dagon was still nearby. Judging from Dagon's strength, even if it encountered an enemy it couldn't defeat, escaping shouldn't be a problem.
Moreover, no terrifying battle scenes occurred on the main side, so there shouldn't be any problems.
He kept reassuring himself, and his clone transformed his arm into a giant fishing net, which then enveloped Kugisaki.
The fishing net covered a vast area, almost blocking all of Kugisaki's escape routes. At that moment, Shigemo Haruta, holding a strangely shaped knife, suddenly stabbed Kugisaki Nobara in the back.
Seeing the attack coming from two different directions again, Kugisaki Nobara gritted her teeth. Her legs had already been cut in the previous battle, and with a lot of bleeding, there was no way she could escape from this attack now.
Damn it... Am I really going to die at the hands of these two bastards?
Ah... there are still so many things I haven't finished: amusement parks, cafes, traveling abroad...
There are so many messy things going on. I really wouldn't be willing to die like this.
But my body had already reached its limit, and no matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to escape this attack at this point.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes slightly, and slammed the hammer behind her with all her might.
She had already figured out that the guy in front of her was a clone, while the blond pervert behind her was the real person.
Even if his dying blow couldn't kill this guy, it should at least severely injure the bastard.
After all, that guy must be the murderer who stabbed Ijichi. Even if I die here today, I will bite off a piece of his flesh!
With this in mind, Kugisaki fearlessly smashed his hammer.
However, just as she was bracing herself for the excruciating pain of her heart being pierced, a gentle voice came from behind her, carrying a spell that felt somewhat familiar to her.
"Reverse Cursed Technique - Red!"
A bright red dot of light flashed past his eyes and struck Shigemo Haruta behind him. In an instant, it melted him and the road behind him into ruins.
Seeing the terrifying power of the spell, Kugisaki Nobara almost instinctively blurted out:
"Go-Go-Teacher?! No, impossible! Go-Teacher's voice isn't that gentle, and he's not that caring. You, you're Zenin Kiyoshi?!"
Upon seeing Kugisaki Nobara in front of him, Zenin Kiyoshi instantly guessed his name, and while he was somewhat surprised, he also wanted to laugh.
Her eyes were wide open, and she looked just like a groundhog.
"If you've guessed who I am, then calling me by my first name isn't very polite."
Zenin smiled and corrected Kugisaki's mistake in word choice.
Kugisaki, meanwhile, was completely bewildered and stood motionless in place.
Chapter-286
Looking at the man's face in Gojo Satoru's phone photo album, Kugisaki Nobara's mind went blank.
Her heart skipped a beat. Even though she had come into contact with supernatural beings like Cursed Spirits, the existence of ghosts and the like still terrified Kugisaki Nobara.
Her lips trembled slightly, their rosy color turning purplish at that moment. She wanted to say something, but couldn't make a sound, or rather, she didn't know what to say.
The next moment, the hammer in her hand fell to the ground with a "clang," along with the nails between her fingers, making a series of "clanging" sounds, but she was completely unaware.
"You, you really are Zenin Kiyoshi-senpai? The guy in Gojo Satoru's phone? But you, you're already..."
Her voice was so soft it was almost a whisper, as if she were afraid that if she raised her voice even slightly, the man in front of her, who seemed to be a ghost, would take her away with him.
Seeing the strange expression on Kugisaki Nobara's face, Zenin Kiyoshi knew she was probably frightened. He smiled gently, waved his hand in front of her eyes, and, under her somewhat fearful gaze, ruffled her hair.
"Although I have been dead for ten years, as you can see, I have somehow come back to life again."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Kugisaki Nobara felt a chill run down her spine, but before she could say anything, she saw his gaze sweep over her thighs.
Kugisaki instinctively brought his legs together; he was still somewhat afraid of this supernatural creature.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the wound on Kugisaki's leg, his brow furrowing slightly, before saying with a hint of concern:
"Your leg injury is quite severe. Please bear with it for a moment, and I will treat you immediately."
As a soft emerald light emanated from Zenin Kiyoshi's fingertips, the combined power of the Reverse Cursed Technique and the Flower Control Technique slowly seeped into Kugisaki's wound.
A tingling, numb sensation came over me, accompanied by a slight pain.
Kugisaki couldn't help but gasp, not from the pain, but from disbelief. Unlike that idiot Itadori, she came from a small rural town, but her grandmother was a sorcerer, so she knew some common knowledge about the world of sorcery from a young age.
Those who can use the Reverse Cursed Technique are monsters, and there is only one person in the world who can give the Reverse Cursed Technique to others!
She knew that person; it was Ms. Ieiri Shoko.
At this moment, the treatment method that Zenin Kiyoshi is using to heal himself is no different from that used on Miss Shoko, and in fact, Zenin Kiyoshi's treatment effect is even better than Miss Shoko's!
Based on this alone, she was able to conclude that the man in front of her was indeed the friend that Gojo Satoru and the others had missed for more than ten years.
"It really is you…" she murmured to herself.
"But haven't you been dead for ten years? How can you still be here? Are you even dead? If you're not dead, then I really can't condone your scumbag behavior!"
From Kugisaki's perspective, Zenin Kiyoshi is a scumbag who toyed with everyone's feelings and then disappeared for ten years.
If the other party cannot give me a reasonable explanation, even if he saved me here, I will only repay the debt of gratitude and will not become friends with him!
"I am indeed dead. I am currently in a special form of Seance Technique. I don't know when I will disappear, just like this guy."
While healing Kugisaki's wounds, Zenin Kiyoshi turned to look at the bound Toji, then smiled and said:
"This guy is Megumi's father, can you tell?"
Upon hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Kugisaki was startled. She suddenly looked up and saw Toji, who had a gloomy expression. Coincidentally, the two even looked at each other. Looking into the other's black eyes, which were full of indifference and murderous intent, Kugisaki got goosebumps all over her body.
"Ugh~ this awful sense of world-weariness, just like that bastard Megumi! These two must be father and son! There's no need for any guessing!"
Hearing Kugisaki Nobara's answer, Zenin Kiyoshi smiled and nodded, then said:
"He looks like he went berserk after failing to use a Seance Technique, and so did I, except the effects of our failed Seance Techniques are different. I might disappear at any time, so I don't have much time to explain to you right now, but believe me, I am definitely concerned about you juniors at the college."
At this point, Zenin Kiyoshi also turned his gaze to the Mahito's clone beside him, and then said calmly:
"Given the limited time, let's deal with this guy first."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, the Mahito's clone looked extremely ugly. He could feel that his spells and various abilities were sealed off at this moment. No matter how he tried to break free, he could only find that the surrounding air was like solidified amber, holding him firmly in place.
"Don't waste your energy."
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the still struggling Mahito clone, his voice tinged with coldness:
"Your original body has been sealed by me, and it will die in a few hours. You don't need to worry about the condition of your original body."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, the Mahito's clone was somewhat deranged. In his world, his true body could never be killed by those ugly humans!
The clone's pupils contracted sharply, and it roared in disbelief:
"Impossible! With its immense power, how could it possibly allow your plan to succeed!"
"Dagon is also dead."
Zenin Kiyoshi interrupted him, his voice cold and devoid of any emotion.
"That guy died a very thorough death."
Do you think I'd believe something like that?
Zenin Kiyoshi had no interest in arguing with the Mahito's clone. He raised his hand and placed it lightly on the clone's forehead:
"It's getting late; it's time to send you on your way."
"etc!"
Just as Zenin was about to make his move, Kugisaki suddenly shouted.
This wasn't an attempt to exonerate or beg for mercy on behalf of the Mahito. She looked at Zenin Kiyoshi and then said in one breath:
"That bastard with the stitched-up face, he knows a lot of information! Maybe we can get some details out of him..."
Zenin Kiyoshi shook his head at Kugisaki's suggestion, then explained:
"This is just a clone; its memories are incomplete. And..."
As he said this, Zenin Kiyoshi's eyes turned cold.
"Some things, you know without asking."
Before he could finish speaking, Zenin Kiyoshi had already grabbed the Mahito's head.
With a surge of magical power, the clone let out a silent scream, and its body gradually dissipated as if it had been wiped away.
That was actually a fine slash that sliced the Mahito into a bloody mist. A gentle breeze came, and the bloody mist slowly dissipated in the air.
Kugisaki stared blankly at the scene, then suddenly realized something:
"You just said that the damn stitched-up face's original form was sealed away? Does that mean...?"
"This means that the threat from Mahito has been eliminated, and there will be no more cyborgs here in the future."
Chapter-287
Is there any chance of saving those cyborgs?
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Kugisaki subconsciously looked at some cyborgs lying on the street, their appearances strange and their cries of pain incessant.
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi sighed softly, and then said:
"I'm not so sure. If it's just that the soul has been altered in form, that's fine. But some people's souls have been split up, and some of the split souls are already dead, so the situation is a bit complicated and difficult."
Upon hearing this, Kugisaki nodded, then spat out a mouthful of blood onto the ground. She sat down on the ground without any regard for her image, panting heavily. The feeling of almost dying had left her still reeling.
She glanced at the half-dead body of Shigemo Haruta, staring at the blood-soaked scene, then slightly turned her head and asked Zenin Kiyoshi:
"That guy's ability is strange. He seems like he can't die. Why did he die the moment you made a move?"
Zenin Kiyoshi glanced at Kugisaki Nobara's ankle, which was almost fully recovered, and then slowly explained:
"Although I don't quite understand that guy's technique, there are some strange fluctuations of magical power in the red patterns on his face. When I attacked, those magical power fluctuations were significantly depleted."
As the Cursed Energy was being depleted, I could clearly feel my attacks gradually veering off course. However, because that guy was too weak, the Cursed Energy within the red patterns was quickly exhausted.
"And since my attack range is quite large, it's normal that he didn't escape."
Hearing this, Kugisaki Nobara nodded slightly. Looking at Zenin Kiyoshi's face, she said with a hint of envy:
"I really envy your spells that are born with wide-range attacks, unlike my spells which require so much preparation beforehand. Although I've never met you in person before, I know a lot of gossip about you."
"Hey~ Can you tell me, Mei Mei, Shoko, and Senior Utahime, which one is your favorite...?"
Just before Kugisaki Nobara could ask those outrageous questions, Zenin Kiyoshi coughed twice, then looked into the distance and said softly:
"Can you still move? If you can, get out of here quickly and get outside the Barrier. It will be very dangerous here soon. There's a troublesome guy waiting for us."
Kugisaki listened to Zenin Kiyoshi's words, a look of dissatisfaction appearing on his face, and he subconsciously retorted:
"Hey! At least answer my question first. Besides, if I were afraid of danger, I wouldn't be here! Although I'm a bit older, I'm still as conscious as a sorcerer should be!"
As Kugisaki spoke, she followed Zenin Kiyoshi's gaze, but at that moment, she suddenly remembered something:
"By the way! It seems like Itadori is being targeted. Some of Sukuna's fingers went missing from the high school before. There must be some kind of plan aimed at Itadori. Could you take me with you to find him?! After all..."
"I know what's going on with Itadori, but you don't need to worry."
Zenin Kiyoshi interrupted Kugisaki Nobara's words, then said softly:
"That child is going through what he has to go through. It's not a good choice for us to go now. Don't worry, if I'm here, I will make sure that nothing happens to Itadori."
As Zenin Kiyoshi spoke, he reached out and pulled up Kugisaki, who was still in a daze:
"Let's leave here quickly. The situation here will become very complicated in a while. If you don't have top-level strength, staying here will only cause trouble."
Kugisaki instinctively wanted to refute something, but the other party's statement, "If you don't have Special Grade strength, don't stay here," left him speechless.
She couldn't help but glance at Zenin Kiyoshi beside her. Ten years had passed, but his appearance seemed unchanged; he still looked like the man in the photo on Gojo Satoru's phone.
After a quick mental estimate of their ages, he figured the other person should be around his age. Although Gojo Satoru-sensei had said he should have had Special Grade strength back then, ten years had passed, and perhaps Gojo Satoru-sensei had misjudged him...
And so what if she's a top-tier fighter? She definitely can't leave here. Since she's come here, she can't possibly slink away before she's won.
Those two idiots, Itadori and Megumi, are still waiting for their big sister to come and save them!
She wouldn't let other people's words change her mind!
I am someone who cannot be defined!
She took a deep breath, then looked at Zenin Kiyoshi beside her and smiled:
"Okay, then I'll go find Miss Shoko. Since it's still dangerous here, let's split up. You go help those in danger, and I'll leave."
Oh, by the way, thank you for saving my life just now. If we're both alive and meet again, I'll treat you to dinner!
After saying that, Kugisaki Nobara didn't wait for Zenin Kiyoshi to say anything, and rushed straight towards the distance.
Watching her running figure, Zenin Kiyoshi's face showed a helpless smile.
From the crow's perspective, Kugisaki Nobara changed direction at the next corner, and instead of moving away from the Barrier, she rushed closer to the center of the Barrier.
Toji beside him was becoming increasingly agitated, his dark eyes seemingly about to devour his last remaining rationality.
Zenin Kiyoshi frowned. He couldn't stray too far from Toji right now, otherwise, if this guy randomly picked someone, it would be a devastating blow to anyone.
As for Mahito, he has already sealed him away, and that guy poses no threat at the moment.
Let's send the Kugisaki out first, lest that guy get caught up in the aftermath of the battle later.
The next instant, the Limitless Technique was activated, and Zenin Kiyoshi's figure instantly appeared behind Kugisaki Nobara.
In the instant before Kugisaki could react, Zenin Kiyoshi had already grabbed the back of her neck, as if he were strangling a kitten.
"Don't be reckless here. Protect Shoko. She's in danger too."
With a flimsy excuse, Zenin Kiyoshi grabbed Kugisaki and threw him outside the Barrier.
And at that very moment, he saw Shoko leaning on the railing, smoking.
At this moment, Shoko's face was full of sorrow, and her dark circles were almost exaggerated. But the moment she saw Zenin Kiyoshi, the cigarette in her hand instantly fell to the ground.
Staring at the familiar figure before her, she froze, and subconsciously uttered:
"Huh?"
Chapter-288
Around Halloween, the nights in Tokyo were already getting a bit chilly.
On this somewhat abandoned iron tower, the cold wind made people shiver.
The coolness, like a thick fog, seeped into one's skin.
The cigarette in Ieiri Shoko's hand fell silently to the ground, scattering a few sparks.
She stared blankly at the man who had suddenly appeared, her dry lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
Ten years have passed, and she has lost count of how many times she has stared blankly at that yellowed photograph in the dissection room. And now, the person in the photograph is standing alive in front of her.
That wasn't her hallucination. She could feel the familiar magical power emanating from the other person's body, and she could also feel the fluctuations of a spell that were somewhat similar to her own.
Even his own soul was telling him that the person in front of him was Zenin Kiyoshi himself!
But hasn't he been dead for ten years?
He's already dead...
"Kiyoshi...?"
Shoko's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible; she was afraid that if she raised her voice even slightly, she would shatter the dreamlike figure before her.
Seeing the somewhat stunned Shoko before him, Zenin Kiyoshi gently placed the still struggling Kugisaki on the ground and gave Shoko an apologetic smile:
"I'm sorry, Shoko. Although it's been a long time, it seems I've caused you trouble again."
Having just recovered from the high-speed movement, Kugisaki suddenly jumped up and said to Zenin Kiyoshi beside him:
"Wait! You just said that Ms. Shoko was in danger, that's a complete lie..."
But before Kugisaki could finish speaking, Shoko's actions interrupted her.
Kugisaki only saw Ieiri Shoko suddenly take a step forward, and then raise her hand without hesitation and slap Zenin Kiyoshi across the face.
"Bang!"
The slap didn't land on Zenin Kiyoshi's face in the end; instead, her hand landed on Zenin Kiyoshi's shoulder, delivering a thick slap through his clothes.
Zenin Kiyoshi gazed at the glass before him, feeling a strange mix of emotions welling up inside him.
Shoko's hands were still trembling slightly, and her eyes reddened almost instantly.
"Ten years...you bastard, you disappeared for a full ten years...Do you know how much pain I've endured during these ten years?! Do you know how many people have died because of you during these ten years? Do you know how many people have died because of you during these ten years...?"
By the end, Shoko was completely unable to continue. Tears had already blurred her vision, her voice became choked, and she couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
At this moment, she no longer cared about her image and buried herself in Zenin Kiyoshi's arms. Her face was pressed against Zenin Kiyoshi's heart, feeling the familiar scent and warmth of his body. She couldn't help but cry loudly.
However, because her entire face was buried in the tranquility of the Zenin, her cries were muffled by her clothes, sounding somewhat dull and hoarse.
Snot and tears covered Zenin Kiyoshi's clothes at that moment, but he felt no disgust at all. Instead, he gently stroked Shoko's back. The pungent chemical smell emanating from her did not disgust him at all; instead, he felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the other person's still trembling shoulders, his voice tinged with deep remorse:
"I'm sorry, Shoko..."
"Stop spouting nonsense! I don't need your apology. No, right now I need an explanation for why you disappeared for ten years more than your apology!"
Shoko abruptly broke free from Zenin Kiyoshi's embrace, then grabbed his collar:
"Give me an explanation! Now! Immediately!"
But at that moment, Kugisaki, who had been left aside, suddenly exclaimed:
"careful!"
Just as Kugisaki's voice fell, Toji, who had been standing to the side without saying a word, suddenly rushed towards Zenin Kiyoshi.
A chain appeared in his hand without his knowledge, and he swung it sharply at Zenin Kiyoshi's neck. However, Zenin Kiyoshi didn't even turn around in the face of the attack; he simply raised his hand casually.
"clang!"
With a somewhat jarring sound, Chain of a Thousand Miles was blocked by an invisible Barrier just inches from his neck.
At this moment, Toji's eyes had long since lost all reason and sanity. In those black eyes, there was a raging killing intent, but even more so, an indescribable pain.
"It seems I won't be able to explain so much to you, Shoko, for the time being."
Zenin Kiyoshi gently pushed aside the bewildered Shoko in front of him, then turned to look at Toji behind him, and slowly sighed:
"We need to deal with this bastard whose body is controlled by the Seance Technique first."
He turned to face Toji, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness:
"Can't you handle these things yourself? You always leave the problems to me, just like how you used to hate washing dishes. You're such an irresponsible jerk."
However, in response to Zenin Kiyoshi's teasing, Toji let out a low growl like a wild beast. The Chain of a Thousand Miles was suddenly pulled back, and then in a turn, it was instantly transferred to his other hand, and after being extended, it attacked Zenin Kiyoshi's heart.
But Zenin Kiyoshi did not choose to dodge this attack.
The sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh was exceptionally clear; the Chain of a Thousand Miles pierced Zenin Kiyoshi's abdomen with pinpoint accuracy, and blood instantly stained his clothes.
"No!" Shoko exclaimed in surprise. Looking at everything in front of her, she felt her mind go completely blank.
At this moment, Kugisaki Nobara rushed over, trying to cover for Zenin Kiyoshi from the current situation.
But at that moment, Zenin Kiyoshi suddenly reached out his hand and placed it directly on Toji's head, accompanied by a familiar aura that Shoko felt.
Zenin Kiyoshi used the Reverse Cursed Technique directly on Toji.
As that peculiar wave of magical energy spread, the darkness in Toji's eyes instantly vanished, and his mind became clear.
He gazed at the tranquil Zenin before him, a dazed expression on his face.
"I had already studied the art of Seance Technique before I died. To put it bluntly, it has many similarities with the formation of Cursed Spirits. They are both composed of resentment and some mediums."
And it is precisely for this reason that all that is needed is to use the Reverse Cursed Technique on you to neutralize those overly strong curses and resentments. As for what exactly needs to be done to completely save you without breaking the spell, I need to proceed slowly.
You agree, don't you? Why?
Chapter-289
The unique Reverse Cursed Technique belonging to Zenin Kiyoshi flowed before Toji, accompanied by the black Cursed Energy that was wrapped around Toji's body, which melted away as quickly as ice and snow encountering the sun.
Just as the power of the curse dissipated, the confusion and bewilderment in Toji's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a look of sudden realization, like someone who had just woken up.
A faint smell of blood filled the air. Toji subconsciously looked up and saw Zenin Kiyoshi's mouth, which was slightly stained with blood.
He looked down at the Chain of a Thousand Miles that pierced through the abdomen of the Zenin Kiyoshi, his fingers trembling slightly.
"You brat...?"
"You're still the same as before, but I don't have time to talk to you about that now, so don't move."
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice remained calm. Although blood was gushing from his wounds, he paid no attention to them and instead spoke to Toji:
"We'll be able to handle it with just a little more effort; the amount of Cursed Energy isn't easy to change."
Shoko wanted to step forward to help Zenin Kiyoshi treat his wounds, but Zenin Kiyoshi gently stopped her.
Looking at Zenin Kiyoshi shaking his head at her, Shoko bit her lip and stood there, her nails digging deep into her palms. Because of the force, her fingertips even turned white at this moment.
It's always like this. Why is it that no matter what, I can only stand behind them and watch them fight, get hurt, or even die?
But I can only stay where I am, limited by my own talent, forever waiting in the back, and can only pray that bad things don't happen.
How long will this continue?!
Why are her talents so weak?! Why does she lack even the slightest bit of fighting ability and talent?!
Shoko bit her lip, swallowing blood droplets along with her saliva. Looking at Zenin Kiyoshi before her, she felt her heart tremble violently.
But as she looked at the Zenin before her, and at the two familiar figures before her.
At this moment, she stared blankly at the scene, watching the wound on Zenin Kiyoshi's abdomen heal at a speed visible to the naked eye, and watching the curse aura on Toji's body dissipate rapidly.
This incredibly precise control over her magical power reminded her of something the Principal Yaga had once told her:
"That brat Kiyoshi, although it's true that spells are absolutely imitations, to be honest, Shoko, if that guy ever manages to imitate your spells, he'll be able to pull off even the most inverted spells."
While Shoko was still immersed in her memories, the last wisp of black mist dissipated from Toji's eyes.
Zenin Kiyoshi finally released his grip, let out a slight breath, and took a half-step back, looking somewhat exhausted.
With a slight exertion of his arm, Chain of a Thousand Miles was pulled from his body and fell to the ground with a clatter, stained with the blood of Zenin Kiyoshi.
"Finally, I've gotten rid of this trouble of yours. Since you're already dead, don't keep causing trouble for others."
Even so, Zenin Kiyoshi still gave Toji a pale smile and said with a smile:
"Long time no see, have you missed me?"
She didn't answer Zenin Kiyoshi's question immediately, but stared blankly at her hands, then at Zenin Kiyoshi's still bleeding wounds.
As her reason returned, memories flooded back like a tidal wave: the disbelief upon learning of Zenin Kiyoshi's death, the agonizing days and nights she had endured, the misfortune she suffered while searching for clues about Zenin Kiyoshi, the regret of dying unwillingly when tricked by the Cursed Spirit, and the attack she had just launched against Zenin Kiyoshi while under the curse's control...
Everything was giving Toji a terrible headache. He stared at the Zenin before him, his voice hoarse:
"I..."
Toji's voice was terribly hoarse, almost like the sound of two dry twigs rubbing together.
I hurt you...
Zenin Kiyoshi was unconcerned by Toji's attack. He waved his hand dismissively and then said:
"It's just a minor injury. You should know that wounds of this severity can heal instantly with a slight reversal of the incantation. More than the wound, I want to ask you, how exactly did you...?"
But before Zenin Kiyoshi could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a sudden slap.
Toji appeared in front of him almost instantly, staring intently at him, and suddenly reached out and slapped him hard on the shoulder twice, with such force that it almost broke his bones.
"Three years..."
Toji's voice was somewhat muffled, and his hand remained on his shoulder.
"You little brat, do you know how I searched for you for those three years? If I hadn't been ambushed by that damned bastard at the end of the third year and died there, I'd probably still be searching for you now!"
Megumi, Eri, and many others, all because of…
Toji hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, shook his head, and said to the Zenin Kiyoshi:
"That has nothing to do with you. It's my own problem. I insisted on finding you. If it weren't for that obsession, none of those things would have happened. But tell me, are you even alive now?!"
Zenin Kiyoshi gently shook his head, then sighed and said:
"Although I really want to say that I am a living person, I'm sorry, even I don't know what my current situation is. Maybe it's similar to your berserk spirit technique?"
Upon hearing this, Toji's eyes dimmed slightly, and he sighed.
"Ah, I knew it? But you really are the kind of guy I trained. Even in death, you'll still cause trouble."
At that moment, Shoko finally couldn't help but step forward.
She looked at Zenin Kiyoshi's still-bleeding wound and instinctively reached out to treat it, but Zenin Kiyoshi gently grasped her wrist.
"Let's deal with Kugisaki Nobara's situation first."
Zenin Kiyoshi said softly to Shoko.
"My injury is nothing serious, I can heal it myself."
"When will you leave here? That's all I want to know."
Shoko's voice trembled slightly, her emotions tinged with an undisguised sorrow.
"I don't know, maybe the next moment? Or maybe the day after tomorrow, or next month..."
"Then at least talk to me a little more before you leave. I have so many things I want to tell you."
Just then, Itadori's painful roar came from afar, accompanied by a burst of some terrifying Cursed Energy.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the glass before him, a complex expression on his face.
"It seems I can't agree to your request, Shoko. I'm sorry..."
Having said that, Zenin Kiyoshi didn't wait for Shoko's reply, but instead spoke in an almost commanding tone:
"Take Kugisaki away from here! It's going to be very dangerous here!"
Shoko wanted to say something more, but Zenin Kiyoshi had already turned and left.
Despite the bleeding from his abdominal wound, he did not hesitate in the slightest.
Chapter-290
Zenin Kiyoshi's figure vanished into the night almost instantly, leaving only a lingering scent of blood in the air as a reminder of his presence.
As Shoko watched the other person's figure disappear, her outstretched hand froze in mid-air before finally falling limply to her side.
"etc!"
Just then, Kugisaki's voice reached her ears. She watched Zenin Kiyoshi's departing figure and anxiously tried to chase after him, but Shoko grabbed her arm.
Don't go.
Shoko's voice sounded unusually calm at this moment, so calm that it was as if she wasn't the one who had been hysterically trying to explain herself just moments before.
But Kugisaki could sense that Shoko's fingers, which were gripping his wrist, were trembling slightly. Shoko's heart was in unbearable pain.
"Kugisaki, listen to me, don't chase after him. Although that guy always acts on his own initiative, almost every decision he makes is correct."
If he's already said that, then if we rush over now, we'll only become a burden to him, useless pieces of trash that the enemy could use on the battlefield. Let's not cause him any trouble; he might disappear at any moment. But even so, he still wants to do more here. Let's not cause him any more trouble…"
As she spoke, Shoko's voice even trembled slightly with a sob. It was unclear whether she was speaking to herself or to someone else.
Kugisaki could feel the hand holding his wrist slowly growing cold, as if all the strength in his body was being drained away.
Looking at the extremely haggard Shoko in front of her, Kugisaki stopped in her tracks. With a touch of heartache, she took two steps forward and gently supported Shoko.
Almost the instant Kugisaki arrived, Shoko's entire body went limp against him.
It wasn't until this moment that Kugisaki realized just how emotionally broken Shoko had become.
At this moment, the wind on the tower was even colder, making it difficult to open one's eyes.
Toji, who had remained silent until now, slowly stood up and picked up the Chain of a Thousand Miles from the ground.
Then the dim streetlights came on, and he could see that the chains were still stained with Zenin Kiyoshi's blood, which gleamed with a dark red luster under the moonlight.
"That brat…" Toji's voice was terrifyingly low, filled with intense dissatisfaction:
"He's always so self-righteous, thinking he's some kind of high priest who can see through everything in the future? What an annoying guy! Hey! Shoko, when are you going to stop dawdling?"
I remember when I left the college, you were a pretty capable kid. How come you were so easily fooled by that kid from the Zenin Kiyoshi?
"Ugh, it's really annoying to see you like this. If you keep going like this, when that brat Zenin Kiyoshi finds a girlfriend, you'll probably be ranked after Mei Mei, Riko, Hanami, the Utahime... and all those other girls. If you don't even have the ability to discern for yourself, you'll only be able to be the youngest wife."
Hearing Toji's somewhat frantic words, Shoko's bitterness was instantly replaced by a strange sense of shame and indignation. Her previously limp body regained some strength, and she roared at the indifferent Toji:
"Teacher Toji! What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean by 'little, little, concubine'!"
In response to Shoko's questioning, Toji merely picked at his ear, then casually toyed with the Chain of a Thousand Miles in his hand. He stared at the blood on the chains, his tone still that of someone half-dead:
"Am I wrong? With your indecisive attitude right now, you don't even have half of Mei Mei's courage. If that brat really starts a harem, you probably won't even get a spot."
Also, don't keep saying that kid's judgment is always right. If he really was always right, he wouldn't have died in the Tengen incident. And if I'm not mistaken, you should be almost 27 this year, right?
You're at least ten years older than that brat Zenin Kiyoshi, right? What's the point of having over ten years of life experience if you can't control a high school student? If you can't control him even though you're ten years older, you can't possibly control him when you're the same age. That's all I have to say. Reflect on your actions."
"you..."
Hearing Toji's words, Shoko was so angry that she trembled all over and could hardly speak properly. However, if she wanted to refute him, she thought about it carefully and realized that she really didn't have anything to say in her rebuttal.
But after hearing Toji say that, she was still a little annoyed. After thinking it over, she took a deep breath and then said:
"Then, Teacher Toji, what do you suggest we do?!"
"It's simple! Just ignore what that brat says. Now listen to me, keep an eye on that reckless guy next to you, and focus on treating the wounded. Just wait for my news."
"Isn't that the same thing Xiaoqing said?!"
Hearing Shoko's words, Toji scratched his head in a daze, then said:
"Don't keep dwelling on unimportant things. I am your teacher, and even if I die, I will still be your teacher. It is indeed quite dangerous there. I will go and help rescue some people. After all, this body of mine is not capable of engaging in high-intensity combat."
I might turn into a bastard who can't distinguish friend from foe again at any time, so it's better to rescue them as soon as possible so I can have some options later.
By the way, it's much more comforting to see someone angry than crying.
Kugisaki stared dumbfounded at Toji, who was bickering with Shoko. She was momentarily at a loss for words at this unexpected gossip saga. After a moment's thought, she cautiously interjected:
"Um, excuse me...shouldn't we go deal with those guys first?"
As Kugisaki spoke, he pointed to the cyborgs that were rushing toward them from not far away.
Hearing Kugisaki's words, Toji subconsciously turned his head to look. When he saw the cyborgs, he nodded and then said:
"That's right."
Toji slowly suppressed his smile, gripped the Chain of a Thousand Miles tightly in his hand, and then said:
"It's time to get down to business. Protect that impulsive little girl, Shoko! Don't let her run around!"
Having said that, Toji also disappeared from this place at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye.
Kugisaki stared blankly in the direction where Toji and Zenin Kiyoshi had disappeared, suddenly feeling a sense of powerlessness:
"Ms. Shoko, is this really all we can do?"
Shoko didn't rush to answer Kugisaki's question. She simply gazed in the direction where Zenin Kiyoshi and Toji had disappeared and slowly exhaled a smoke ring.
Amidst the wisps of smoke, her gaze gradually hardened.
"No, there are always things we can do... definitely!"