"You can look for that in hell."
Satoru Gojo's voice was as cold as a Siberian gale.
In that instant, Hanami felt an unprecedented fear. As a Special Grade Cursed Spirit...
...it was the incarnation of nature, possessing extremely tenacious vitality.
But now, the moment that man grabbed the branches over its eyes, it felt like an ant having its head pinned down by a god.
"Domain Amplification!"
Hanami let out a desperate roar as a dark red film of cursed energy instantly coated its body—the Domain Amplification capable of neutralizing any cursed technique.
It tried to use this method to forcibly break through Gojo's untouchable Limitless defense.
At the same time...
Countless thick roots erupted from beneath the concrete floor like a giant flytrap, attempting to strangle Gojo along with the surrounding hostages.
'As long as I neutralize Limitless, I can touch him!'
'As long as I have hostages, he can't fight back!'
It was gambling—gambling that Gojo would let go to save the civilians.
However, it lost that bet.
"How naive."
Gojo didn't even blink, even letting Hanami's Amplified cursed energy graze the edge of his clothes.
"Not only are you weak..."
"...but you're also an idiot."
Crack!
A crisp snapping sound rang out, sounding exceptionally piercing amidst the chaotic screams.
Gojo's hands were like iron pincers. Ignoring all of Hanami's defenses, he reached in and ripped out the branch-eyes that marked its weakness!
"This is your weakness, isn't it?"
"It's as easy as pulling weeds."
Squelch!
Purple blood erupted like a fountain.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
Hanami let out a shrill, agonizing scream; it was the excruciating pain of its soul being torn apart.
"Hanami!!!"
Watching from a distance, Jogo's single eye instantly became bloodshot, and he let out a heart-wrenching roar.
He wanted to rush over, but reason told him that doing so would only lead to his death.
But Gojo didn't stop there. His figure left an afterimage behind.
A split second later...
He appeared at Hanami's side, pinning the massive head down with a single hand.
A cruel arc curled at the corner of his mouth.
"I told you, didn't I?"
"When it comes to weeds..."
"...I show no mercy."
Boom!
Gojo's arm flexed with sudden force. Cursed energy was compressed to its limit within his palm before exploding.
He slammed Hanami ruthlessly against the hard concrete wall of the subway station.
It wasn't just a crushing display of strength; it was the ultimate art of cursed energy manipulation.
"Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue."
Although there was no full incantation, at this point-blank range, Blue's suction was compressed to a terrifying density.
Like a miniature black hole, it detonated against Hanami's chest.
Bang!!!
The entire wall collapsed instantly, debris flying everywhere.
Under this blow, Hanami's body—as hard as iron—couldn't maintain its shape at all.
Its wooden armor shattered, and its flesh was forcibly crushed together like a soda can in a hydraulic press.
It was instantly deformed, twisted, and then...
Completely pulverized!
There were no last words, and no chance for a counterattack.
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit that had been so arrogant just moments ago was now a blurry smear of purplish-black sludge embedded deep within the wall.
The first Special Grade, Hanami.
Confirmed dead.
Silence.
The entire platform on the fifth basement floor fell into a deathly hush.
Only Satoru Gojo shook the blood from his hand, as if he had just performed a trivial task.
"Next."
He turned his head.
Those azure Six Eyes locked onto Jogo nearby.
"Are you next?"
Jogo froze.
"Ha... nami?"
He stared blankly at the smear on the wall, his voice trembling, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Hanami, who was even hardier and had more tenacity than him...
...just disappeared like that?
His huge single eye was now filled with unbelievable terror.
Hanami was dead, just like that?
Not even lasting a minute? Is this the strongest sorcerer of the modern era? Is this Satoru Gojo?!
"A... a monster..."
Jogo's body was shaking.
He wanted to run.
But under the gaze of those eyes, he felt he didn't even have the courage to move his legs.
"What's wrong?"
Gojo took long strides, walking toward him step by step.
Each step felt like it was treading directly on Jogo's heart.
"Weren't you shouting quite boldly a moment ago?"
"Something about sealing me away?"
"Come on."
Gojo spread his arms, making an incredibly arrogant, provocative gesture.
"I'm standing right here."
"Show me what other tricks you have up your sleeve."
"If you don't have any left..."
His gaze instantly became bone-chillingly cold.
"...then please, just die."
Just as Jogo was about to break down and prepare for a desperate last stand...
Whirrr.
A strange mechanical rumble echoed.
It suddenly drifted from the depths of the subway tunnel, breaking the suffocating confrontation.
Gojo stopped.
His Six Eyes shifted slightly, looking into the darkness of the tunnel.
There, an old train with dim yellow headlights...
...slowly pulled into the platform.
The screech of wheels against the rails sounded particularly grating in the quiet space.
"Oh?"
Gojo narrowed his eyes.
"Is this your backup plan?"
Jogo was also stunned.
He turned to look at the train, and the despair in his eyes was suddenly replaced by a surge of ecstasy.
"It's here!"
"It's finally here!"
"Satoru Gojo!"
Jogo let out a manic laugh.
"You think you've won?"
"The real hell..."
"...is only just beginning!"
Click.
The train came to a halt, and the doors slowly slid open.
A nauseating stench instantly flooded the entire platform.
It wasn't the smell of corpses, but something even more revolting...
...the scent of twisted souls.
Gojo's brow furrowed as he saw those packed tightly inside the train car...
They weren't humans.
They were a crowd of distorted, deformed, wailing...
...monsters.
And on top of these monsters...
...sat a cursed spirit with a stitched face.
He was playing with a few shrunken humans in his hands, a naive yet cruel smile on his face.
"Hi, Satoru Gojo!"
Mahito waved.
It was as if he were greeting an old friend.
"Happy Halloween."
"This is the gift I prepared for you."
"Do you like it?"
Before the words could even settle...
...countless transfigured humans poured out of the train like a tide, lunging at the terrified civilians on the platform.
The situation reversed in an instant.
Standing still, Gojo watched the hellish scene before him. Within those azure eyes...
...for the first time...
...real anger ignited.
"You guys..."
"...have really pissed me off."
[ Author's Note : If you're loving the story, a power_stone, review or comment means the world!
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