**Chapter 17: Sukuna's Domain vs. Itadori's Trick!**
The two walked into the high-end arena...
At first, they thought they had misheard.
How could there be two domain expansions? Was Sukuna repeating himself?
But upon closer inspection, the voices were definitely different!
"Is that... Itadori!?"
Looking back, yes, it really was their 'exclusive healer' and 'substitute teacher'.
He also has a domain?
Just a moment ago, they had no idea what his technique was, and now he's using a domain?
Itadori looked just like Sukuna, mimicking his hand gesture.
No exceptions—exactly the same.
The wrists pressed together, palms facing each other but not quite touching.
Fingers bent and intertwined, forming a "frame" or "cage" shape!
It was immensely oppressive, carrying a unique beauty!
It had the majesty of a god and the madness of an evil spirit!
It seemed as though they were going to perform an act of annihilation with ease!
"Hm!?"
Sukuna's eyes narrowed, a thought crossed his mind: *You want to collide domains with me?*
Wait, no!
Why is he mimicking *my* gesture?
...Is it a coincidence?
Impossible!
"Surprised?"
Itadori continued his teaching.
"Do you want me to explain what a domain is?"
"A domain is the materialization of one's inherent domain using cursed energy, with the added effect of a technique. It creates a space where the technique is guaranteed to hit."
"In a domain, you get buffs and a guaranteed hit."
"For a regular sorcerer, the conditions to activate a domain are extremely high, requiring vast cursed energy and mastery of barrier techniques."
"After activation, there's a brief downtime, a short interval before the domain becomes unstable."
"Also..."
"Domains come in closed and open types. The ones from earlier were closed domains—those cursed spirits were newborns and lacked the technique add-ons."
"They were half-baked."
In a brief 0.1-second burst, Itadori compressed all of this information and conveyed it into their minds.
Kugisaki, Fushiguro, and even semi-conscious Yuji understood instantly—no wasted time.
"To break a domain, there are a few ways. First is domain collision."
Itadori continued speaking, but Sukuna wasted no time, cutting in with the next part.
"Fumomatsu Yūkō—!!"
"Fumomatsu Yūkō—!!"
No exception, the moment Sukuna shouted, Itadori stopped teaching and immediately repeated after him.
"Eh???"
This time, Sukuna was starting to lose his composure!
What's going on!?
They want to collide domains, fine, he can understand that—he loves challenging those he deems worthy!
But using the same finger? Sure.
But the domain name too? They can't both be a coincidence, right?
...
"Ding—!"
At the lowest section of the dormitory, a drop of water fell into a pond.
As the ripples spread, Fumomatsu Yūkō rapidly expanded!
"Whoosh—!"
In the void, eight blood-red eyes appeared, accompanying the expansion of the domain!
In an instant, the area near the table was engulfed by blood and darkness, and in the distance, a mountain was visible, endless in all directions.
Looking inside, there was a dark blue lake at its center.
At the top, a courtyard stood, with animal skulls hanging above and a giant mouth beneath it!
A pit of bones and flesh, the eerie skeletal frame of the courtyard.
In short, it formed a small world.
Sukuna switched to a white kimono.
The air turned cold and ominous.
Itadori maintained his gesture, but it seemed as though nothing was happening.
Sukuna's forehead twitched. "Kid, so you're playing me? You don't even have a domain..."
Only he had the Fumomatsu Yūkō, that much was certain.
But he couldn't understand—what's the point of repeating the name?
To mess with him?
Such childish behavior...
After all, why was he wasting his energy on someone like this?
"You think I used it?"
Itadori kept his mystery. Seeing Sukuna laugh, he smiled too.
"Alright, I didn't use it. I'm just messing with you."
"Kugisaki, Fushiguro, Yuji, when you don't have a domain to counter another domain, the second option is..."
"A simple domain."
"This is the signature technique of the Shin-Inn School, also known as the domain for the weak, as it consumes less cursed energy and has a lower entry threshold."
"It creates a small barrier around the user to counter the guaranteed hit effect."
"New-Inn uses binding forms to prevent the simple domain from spreading; there's really no need to keep it a secret."
"It's just a simple technique."
"The downside is, you can't lift both feet off the ground, so it's easy to trap yourself in place, unable to move freely."
"If the opponent is too strong, a simple domain can be instantly shattered."
As he spoke, Itadori's body emitted a special light. He pressed down on Kugisaki and Fushiguro, opening the simple domain around them.
"You treat me like training equipment, but don't think you've earned the right to do that."
Sukuna glared at Kugisaki and Fushiguro, sneering. "Let alone bringing along baggage; it's downright foolish."
His mind flickered, and he activated a technique!
"Baggage, huh..."
Itadori spoke as he vanished.
That speed...
It was so fast that even Sukuna couldn't see it!!
"Where did he go?" Sukuna's pupils dilated!
The next moment, he felt a tug, his hand... His technique-wielding hand was forced open!
The technique was forcibly interrupted!
"Baggage."
"I know, but it doesn't matter. Right now, you're too weak."
Itadori smiled slightly as Kugisaki and Fushiguro stood nearby.
"Eh, wasn't the simple domain supposed to be immovable?"
Kugisaki was shocked as she saw Sukuna up close.
"Feigning a feint? Using the 'Domain Extension'?" Fushiguro said softly.
"Domain Extension?" Kugisaki was puzzled.
At that moment, Sukuna turned to Itadori.
He understood, completely!
Only in a domain could Itadori be this casual. He'd completely misjudged his strength!
At least three fingers' worth of power—maybe more!
Heh,
Sukuna let out a sigh.
He wasn't the type to deny reality or refuse to accept the facts.
"Alright."
"Continuing this fight is pointless. Kid, you should enjoy yourself for now, feel good about yourselves."
Sukuna suddenly gave up continuing the fight.
With a flick of his wrist, he thrust a hand into his chest!
He intended to kill Itadori!
Using a method that no conventional Reverse Cursed Technique could heal from!
"Next time, think before you come out."
Itadori whispered in his ear, then opened his palm, "No need to trouble yourself, I'll handle it."
A flash of blood!
Blood spheres appeared in all directions, quickly taking the shape of sharp thorns!
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The piercing sounds echoed!
As Itadori brought his fingers together, the thorns pierced Sukuna completely!
Before Sukuna could react, he felt an intense pain, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
"You..."
"You really have confidence in your healing abilities, huh."
Wait, blood...?
Another technique? Reverse Cursed Technique?
*Or was that not a technique related to the soul?*
Sukuna lost consciousness.
The blood thorns dissipated.
Itadori held him with one hand.
Sukuna's consciousness faded, while Yuji's took over, seemingly realizing he was about to die, smiling as he said:
"This feeling..."
"Brother Ryoji, Fushiguro, Kugisaki, and even Gojo-sensei... you all live long..."
He slowly closed his eyes.
"Still don't trust my abilities?" Itadori shook his head.
One more Reverse Cursed Technique.
The nearly dead Yuji opened his eyes again, sluggishly but quickly waving at the others,
"Yo, back from the dead?"
He gave a thumbs-up. "I knew you could heal me, Brother Ryoji!"
Kugisaki and Fushiguro sighed in relief.
---
Iijichi and the suited men stood nearby, heart in their throats, waiting.
One of the cursed-energy-sensitive individuals, serving as a "window," sensed something and quickly reported:
"Iijichi-san, the other special-grade cursed spirit's domain has dissipated."
"Dissipated? Did it break on its own, or was it forced...?"
"Iijichi-san! Another one... another terrifying domain has opened, its presence is unlike anything we've seen before!"
The window sensed the situation inside the dormitory and quickly pulled back his perception, sweat trickling down his forehead.
He was afraid if he looked longer, he might get caught in the backlash.
"Explain it in detail..."
Iijichi held his breath.
At that moment, unnoticed, the dormitory and even the outside flashed briefly.
As if a larger "dark curtain" was descending, fleetingly appearing before quickly dissipating.
"It disappeared again!!"
"Uh."